v~^?*"^"'*~-^ 


;  .    - 


trass 


m 


R « ,.  S  AM  I  TEL  H  OTKBSS .  BD. 


SKETCHES 

OF  THE  LIFE  OF  THE  LATE, 

REV.  SAMUEL  HOPKINS,  D.  D. 

Pastor  of  the  first  Congregational  Church  in  Newport, 

WRITTEN  BY  HIMSELF ; 
INTERSPERSED  WITH  MARGINAL  NOTES 

EXTRACTED   FROM   HIS   PRIVATE  DIARY  : 

TO  WHICH  IS  ADDED  ; 

A  DIALOGUE, 

BY   THE   SAME   HAND, 

ON  THE  NATURE  AND  EXTENT  OF  TRUE 
CHRISTIAN  SUBMISSION; 

ALSO,    A  SERIOUS  ADDRESS  TO 

PROFESSING  CHRISTIANS  : 

CLOSED  BY  DR.  HART's  SERMON  AT  HIS 

FUNERAL : 

WITH  AN  INTRODUCTION  TO  THE  WHOLE, 

BY  THE  EDITOR. 


PUBLISHED   BY 

STEPHEN  WEST,  D.  D. 

Paetor  of  the  Church  in  Stockbri  ;ge. 
PUBLISHED  ACCORDING   ?0  ACT  OF  CONGRESS. 

HARTFORD  : 

PRINTED   BY  HU0SQN   AND   GOODWIN. 


1805. 


INTRODUCTION. 


JL  HE  knowledge  of  the  lives  and  c!nr- 
a&ers  of  fuch  as  have  been  eminent  for  piety  r.nd 
ufefulnefs,  can  hardly  fail  of  being  inftructivc 
and  edifying.  We  trace,  in  them,  the  footfta^ 
of  divine  power  and  providence  in  preparing 
♦hem  for  fervice  in  the  kingdom  of  Chrift,  and 
to  be  blc flings  to  the  world.  And  the  examples 
we  have,  in  them,  of  the  manner  and  feveral 
fteps  by  which  they  attained,  through  the  blefP- 
ing  of  God,  to  eminence  in  knowledge  and  piety, 
are  greatly  fitted  to  infpire  candid  minds  with  a 
defire  to  imitate  them. 

In  thefe  views,  the  memoirs  of  few  lives  have 
been  prefented  to  the  public,  which  may  be  ex- 
pe£led  to  be  more  entertaining  and  ufeful,  than 
thole  of  the  late  Rev.  Dr.  Samuel  Hopkins. 
Thefe,  the  reader  will  find  contained  in  "  Sketch- 
es" written  by  the  Do£lor  himlelf  ;  which  were 
compofed  and  arranged  in  a  late  period  cf  his 
life.  The  former  part  was  written  before  the 
attack  of  that  paralytic  diforder,  which,  finally, 
occafioned  his   death  :  the  latter,  after  it.     B/ 


IV  INTRODUCTION. 

the  laft  it  appears,  that  however  his  nervous 
fyftem  and  bodily  organs  had  been  affe&ed  by 
the  fhock,  his  mental  powers  remained  entire  ; 
being  fcarcely  at  all  impaired,  either  by  age,  or 
by  a  diforder,  which  ufually  debilitates  the  mind 
as  well  as  the  body.  The  manner  in  which  the 
following  fketches  are  written,  and  the  unaf- 
fected fimpliciiy  in  which  they  appear,  cannot 
fail  of  engaging  the  attention  and  eftcem  of  the 
gjous  and  judicious  reader. 
j)  * 

"With  a  mind  naturally  clear  and  difcerning, 
he  appeared,  in  early  life,  to  have  felt  the  power 
of  divinetruth,andtohave  imbibed  the  fentiments 
and  fpirit  of  chriftianity.  And  fo  deep  were 
the  impreffions  made,  by  the  power  and  fpirit  of 
God,  on  his  conscience,  and  on  his  heart,  that 
he  was  foon  brought  to  a  fixed,  fettled  determin- 
ation of  mind  to  devote  himfelf — his  powers — 
his  all — his  life  to  the  fervice  of  Chrift.  The 
work  of  the  gofpel  miniftry  being  more  congen- 
ial with  the  feelings  of  his  heart  than  any  other 
employment  in  life,  he  early,  on  leaving  college, 
engaged  in  a  courfe  of  ftudy  with  a  view  of  be- 
ing qualified  for  it.  As  this  was  the  work  for 
which  his  heart  thirfted,  he  judged  that,  in  this, 
he  might  be  mod  ufeful.  The  deep  and  folemn 
fenfe  he  had  of  its  importance,  and  the  views 
and  fentiments  with  which  he  entered  upon  it5 


INTRODUCTION.  V 

may  be  fecn  in  fome  of  the  extracts  from  his  j 
diary  inferted  in  marginal  notes. 

A  I  his  mind  was  peculiarly  formed  for  Rudy 
and  improvement,  he  was  favored  with  a  bodily 
conflitution  capable  of  enduring  greater  and 
more  conftant  application,  than  moit  others. 
Few  men  have  fpent  more  hours  in  ftudy  and 
intenie  application",  than  Doctor  Hopkins  :  And 
few  have  made  fuch  advances  and  improvements 
in  knowledge.  His  ftudies  were  more  confined 
to  divinity,  than  thofe  of  mod  men  of  his  genius 
and  application.  This  was  the  fubject,  which 
was  ever  neareft  his  heart — In  this  was  his  great 
delight.  And  the  uncommon  proficiency  he 
made  in  the  knowledge  of  divine  truth,  and  the 
extenfive  acquaintance  he  gained  with  the  doc- 
trines of  the  chriftian  religion,  have  enabled  him 
greatly  to  benefit  mankind  by  his  publications. 

He  poflefTed  an  unuiual  talent  of  opening  and 
explaining  the  holy  fcriptures — To  him  their 
doclrines  and  inftru£tions  teemed  familiar.  His 
mind  appeared  readily  to  enter  into  the  fpirit,  and 
comprehend  the  meaning  of  paflages,  which,  to 
others  were  obfeure.  And,  though  he  did  not 
negleft  confulting  expofitors  and  commentators, 
with  whofe  works  he  was  well  acquainted,  hi- 
uncommon  difcernment  of  the  fenfc  and  impor 
A   2 


Vl  ,     INTRODUCTION. 

of  the  facred  writings,  feemed  to  arife,  rather 
from  a  peculiar  reliih  of  divine  truth,  than  from 
any  afiiftance  he  derived  from  others — He  ap- 
peared to  be  an  example  of  the  truth  of  our 
Saviour's  words,  "  if  thine  eye  be  fingle,  thy 
whole  body  fhall  be  full  of  light." 

The  natural  ftrength  and  powers  of  mind  he 
poffefled — his  great  application — and  the  clear 
and  comprehenfive  view  he  had  of  the  doctrines 
of  divine  revelation,  very  evidently  appear  in  his 
various  publications ;  but  more  especially,  in 
that  Syjiem  of  divinity,  contained  in  two  volumes, 
with  which  the  public  has  lately  been  favored. 
.  This  will  remain  a  lading  monument  of  uncom- 
mon ability  and  application,  as  well  as  extenfive 
knowledge  and  piety.  Nowhere  can  the  reader 
find  the  doctrines  of  the  facred  writers  fo  clearly 
drawn  out  to  view,  fo  juftly  arranged,  and  fo 
fully  and  unanfwerably  vindicated  as  in  this  : — 
Nor  is  there,  probably,  any  other  human  com- 
pofition  extant,  from  which  fo  good  an  under- 
Handing  may  be  obtained  of  the  gofpel-plan  of 
falvation  by  Chrift — the  terms  on  which  this  fal- 
vation  may  be  had — and,  the  temper  and  charac- 
ter neceflaVy  to  the  enjoyment  of  it.  Here  the  rea- 
der finds  tliofe  doctrines,  which  are  generally 
moft  unwelcome  to  the  human  heart — fuch  as 
thofe,  of  the  total  moral  depravity  of  human 


INTRODUCTION.  vii 

nature — the  abfolute  decrees  of  God — particular 
election — univerfal  divine  providence  and  agency 
— and  the  diftinguifhing  dottrines  of  grace  %  all 
treated  with  great  perfpicuity  and  clearnefs  ; 
and,  fupported  by  a  ftrengh  of  argument,  both 
from  reafon  and  the  holy  fcriptures,  which,  it 
is  thought,  will  forever  exceed  the  ability  of 
oppofers  to  anfwer  or  overthrow.  No  human 
compofition,  it  is  apprehended,  can  be  read  with 
greater  profit,  by  ftudents  in  divinity,  than  thefe 
volumes.  From  thefe  may  be  obtained  a  better 
and  more  extenfive  acquaintance  with  the  doc- 
trines of  divine  revelation,  than  from  many  of 
the  more  voluminous  writings  of  ancient,  though 
refpe£table  divines. 

To  Doctor  Hopkins  are  v/e  indebted  for  a 
better  understanding  of  the  defign  and  end  of 
what  are  generally  termed  the  means  of  grace,  and 
their  ufe  and  application  as  they  refpecl  impenitent % 
Unconverted  Jinners^  than  was  before  had.  His 
difcerning  mind,  in  the  early  part  of  his  public 
miniftry,  difcovered  a  manifeft  inconfiftency  in 
the  exhortations  and  directions  given  to  unbelievers 
by  eminent  divines,  with  the  doclrines  they  public- 
ly taught  and  ftrenuoufly  maintained.  Though 
the  do&rine  of  the  total  moral  depravity  and 
corruption  of  the  human  heart  was  clearly 
taught,  and  forcibly  urged  by  Calviniftic  divines  \ 


Vill  INTRODUCTION. 

and,  clear  evidence  produced  from  the  holy 
fcriptures,  that  all  the  exercifes  of  the  natural 
heart — all  the  doings  and  fervices  of  unregene- 
rate  finners,  were,  not  only  unacceptable,  but 
hateful  in  the  fight  of  God  ;  yet  to  fuch  doings 
and  fervices  did  the  unregenerate  find  themfelves 
exhorted  and  urged  ;  and  this  as  the  appointed 
way  to  obtain  the  favor  of  God  and  converting 
grace.  Though  the  doclrines  were  jufl  and 
fcriptural,  the  exhortations  naturally  operated, 
rather  againft,  than  in  favor  of  the  finner's  fen- 
fible  conviction  of  their  truth.  By  attending  to 
the  Do£tor's  writings  on  this  important  fubject, 
it  foon  became  obvious,  that,  as  the  holy  fcrip- 
tures  require  the  immediate  exercife  of  godly 
forrow  and  repentance,  finners  of  no  defcription 
are  ever  to  be  exhorted  to  any  other  doings,  or 
fuppofed  duties^  than  fuch  as  imply  love  to  God 
and  holinefs. 

No  uninfpired  divine,  before  Doctor  Hopkins, 
had  ever  fet  this  fubjeft  in  a  proper  and  fcriptural 
light.  And  the  benefit  derived  to  the  chriftian 
caufe,  from  his  writings  on  this  interefting  and 
important  fubje£t,  is  fufficient  to  compenfate  the 
ftudy  and  labors  of  a  whole  life. 

On  account  of  his  publications  relative  to  this 
fubjeft,  he  was  the  object  of  much  obloquy  and 


INTRODUCTION.  IX 

reproach.  Thefe  he  bore  with  great  patience 
and  meeknefs  ;  fupported  by  a  full  conviction, 
that  it  was  in  the  caufe  of  truth  lie  fullered  ;  and, 
by  a  hope  and  firm  perfuafion,  that  the  fenti- 
ments  he  had  advanced  were  truly  evangelical, 
would  gain  ground  and  become  prevalent  among 
the  friends  of  truth  and  vital  piety,  and  be  blefled 
to  the  benefit  of  the  caufe  of  chriftianity  in  gen- 
eral. And,  through  the  goodnefs  of  God,  he 
was  preferved  in  life  to  fee  the  fentimenjs  he  had 
advanced  on  this  fubject  in  connexion  with  other 
important  do&rines  of  divine  revelation,  obtain 
greater  fpread  and  prevalence  than  he  had, 
probably,  ever  expected  would  have  been  in 
his  day. 

By  people  of  piety  and  difcernment  Dodlor 
Hopkins  was  efteemed  one  of  the  beft  of  preach- 
ers. Though  his  public  difcourfes  were  lefs 
adapted  to  the  paffions,  than  thofe  of  many 
others,  they  were  unufually  full  of  matter  and  ' 
excellent  inftrudlion,  fitted  to  reach  the  con- 
ference, and  the  heart,  and  to  feed  and  nourifh 
the  lovers  of  truth  and  vital  religion.  Avoiding, 
thofe  abftrufe  reafonings,  which  tend  rather  to 
confound,  than  to  inftrudt  the  hearer,  his  fer- 
mons  were  clear,  perfpicuous  and  fcriptural. 
Few,  who  paid  any  tolerable  attention,  ever 
found    difficulty   in   underftanding   him.      He 


X  INTRODUCTION. 

neither  concealed,  nor  difguifed  what  he  viwed 
as  truth,  however  unpalatable,  through  fear  of 
its  being  unpopular.  However  ungrateful  the 
fentiments  he  delivered  might  be  to  fome,  he  ever 
meant  to  be  underftood.  And  fo  peculiarly 
fitted  were  his  public  difcourfes  to  carry  convic- 
tion, that  fuch  as  were  not  altogether  friendly  to 
doctrines  he  often  taught,  were  yet  at  a  lofs,  when 
they  heard  him,  to  find  any  place  for  objection. 
He  dwelt  much  on  experimental  religion,  and 
was  eminently  an  evangelical  preacher.  Few 
men  equalled  him  in  that  air  of  folemnity  and 
gravity,  in  the  pulpit,  which  rarely  fails  of  .en- 
gaging the  attention  of  an  audience.  And,  as 
his  delivery  was  far  from  being  unanimated,  his 
manner  was  fuch  as  gave  reafon  to  fuppofe  he 
felt  what  he  fpoke.  He,  accordingly,  exceeded 
moil  others  in  folemnizing  his  hearers  and  com- 
manding attention,  wherever  he  preached. 

As  he  obferves  in  the  fketches  of  his  life,  he 
was  never  favored  with  any  general  awakening 
and  attention  to  religion  among  the  people  of  his 
own  immediate  charge.  This,  as  the  reader  will 
find,  he  confiders  as  an  argument  againfl  the  fin- 
cerity  of  his  chriftian  profeffion.  But  when  we 
reflect,  that  there  is  no  divine  promife,  that  the 
fuccefs  of  minifterial  labors  among  a  people,  fliall 
be  in  proportion  to  the  wifdom  and  fidelity  with 


INTRODUCTION.  XI 

which  they  are  difcharged  \  this  ought  to  be  con- 
lidered  as  an  objection  of  little  weight  againit  his 
piety  and  faithfulnefs.  To  eitimatc  the  charac- 
ter and  fidelity  of  a  gofpel  preacher  by  the  num- 
ber of  converfions,  which  are  effected  under  his 
immediate  miniftrations,  would  go  near  to  re- 
proach the  great  Saviour  himfelf.  But  few, 
comparatively,  were  brought  to  the  love  of  the 
truth  under  the  miniitrations  of  Chrift  on  earth — 
He  was  then,  as  has  been  the  cafe  ever  fince, 
generally  defpifed  and  rejected  of  men.  And 
though  it  be  a  great  mercy,  and  a  very  rich  blefT- 
ing — meriting  eternal  thankfulnefs  and  praife,  to 
be  made  inftrumental  of  converfions  among  ft  the 
people  to  whom  we  preach,  it  is  yet  to  be  re- 
membered, the  glorious  God  ever  fhows  himfelf 
^fovereign  in  the  beftowment  of  faving,  convert- 
ing grace.  Though  Paul  plant,  and  Apollos 
water,  it  is  God  who  gives  the  increafe. 

Weaker  means  and  inftruments  are,  many 
times,  peculiarly  owned,  and  blefled  to  the  fal- 
vation  of  finners  ;  while  fuch  as,  to  human  view, 
are  more  able,  feem  left  to  complain,  <we  have 
labored  in  vain.  Things  are  wifely  ordered  to 
minifter  univerfal  conviction,  that  the  power  is 
all  of  God. 

Doctor  Hopkins  feems  to  have  been  railed  up, 


Xll  INTRODUCTION. 

in  divine  providence,  rather  for  miniftering 
light,  comfort,  and  edification  to  chriftians  ; 
opening,  explaining  and  enforcing  the  true  doc- 
trines of  the  gofpel  of  Chrift,  and  benefiting  the 
church  at  large  and  mankind  by  his  inftruttions  ; 
than  for  gathering  new  fubje&s  into  the  family 
and  kingdom  of  God.  And,  in  thefe  refpedts, 
he  fhone  as  a  ftar  of  the  firft  magnitude  *  though 
he  was  not  without  the  other  feal  of  his  min- 
iftry. 

The  principal  features  of  the  Doftor's  charac- 
ter appear  in  his  publications,  and  thoit  Jketches 
of  his  life,  which  are  now  offered  to  public  view. 
There  are  others,  however,  which  it  is  defirable 
fhould  be  known. 

Honored  as  I  was  with  his  friendfhip,  I  may 
be  liable  to  prejudice  :  But,  on  long  and  intimate 
acquaintance,  it  has  appeared  to  me,  that  he 
poflefled  a  candor  of  mind  which  is  rarely  to  be 
found.  Men  of  the  firft  abilities  and  acquire- 
ments, like  others,  are  apt  to  be  tenacious  of 
opinions  they  have  once  imbibed.  Having  form- 
ed them,  as  they  apprehend,  on  mature  thought 
and  deliberation,  they  foon  become  poflefled  of 
a  prejudice  unfavorable  to  light  and  evidence, 
.which  might  correct  them.  Rare  it  was,  that 
any  one  was  capable  of  detecting  an  error  in  the 


INTRODUCTION.  xiii 

fentiments  of  Doctor  Hopkins  on  moral^id  re- 
ligious fubje&s.  But  he  was  remarkably  open 
to  convi£Hon,  whenever  evidence  was  exhibited 
of  the  incor  re  chiefs  of  any  of  his  opinions. 
Truth  appeared  to  be  fo  much  the  object  of  his 
fearch,  that  he  discovered  an  unufual  readinefs 
to  admit  it,  from  whatever  quarter  it  came  ; 
and  that  even  though  he  might  find  error  in  him- 
felf  detected  by  it.  Did  we,  all,  fearch  the 
fcriptures  without  any  prepofleffion  or  prejudice, 
we  fhould  undoubtedly  imbibe  truth  without 
error. 

As  might  be  expected  with  fuch  candor  of 
mind,  his  manner,  in  verbal  difpute,  was  unu-  m 
fually  mild,  fair,  and  moderate.  Far  from  be- 
ing overbearing,  he  ever  gave  every  juft  advant- 
age to  his  opponent  •,  patiently  hearing  whatever 
he  advanced  in  favor  of  his  opinions,  and  giving 
him  full  opportunity  to  vindicate  them  by  every 
argument  he  thought  favorable.  And  as  the 
Doctor  had  a  happy  talent  of  expreffing  his  own 
arguments  with  peculiar  perfpicuity  ;  by  thefe 
means  he  often  convinced  and  gained  over  his  op- 
pofers  •,  when,  had  his  manner  been  auiter j  and 
overbearing,  however  conclufive  his  arguments, 
the  oppofite  party  would  have  remained  uncon- 
vinced and  received  no  benefit. 


:>IV  INTRODUCTION. 

He  had  a  mind  peculiarly  formed  for  friend- 
iiiip  ;**id  appeared  to  be  indeed  the  faithful 
friend.  No  one  entered  into  greater  nearnefs 
and  intimacy  of  chriftian  friendfhip,  or  gave,  or 
ieemed  to  enjoy  greater  pleafure  in  the  fociety 
and  friendfhip  of  chriftians.  And  his  unaffe&ed 
eafe  and  opennefs,  together  with  the  inftructive- 
hefs  of  his  converfation  were  fuch,  as  made  his 
company  greatly  fought,  and  his  friend  (hip  high- 
ly valued  by  the  lovers  of  religion  and  truth. 

He  never  appeared  defirous  of  enriching  him- 
felf  and  laying  up  treafures  on  earth.  As  he 
pcffefled  but  a  moderate  portion  of  worldly  fub~ 
fiance,  he  never  fought  opportunities  to  enlarge 
it.  Having  but  little,  he  was  content  with  little. 
The  congregation,  to  which  he  miniflered  in 
Newport  was  fmall :  and  though  he  was  highly 
eiteemed  by  the  people  of  his  charge,  he  yet  re- 
ceived but  a  fcanty  fupport  from  them.  What 
he  ftatedly  received  was  in  weekly  contributions  : 
but,  though  content  with  moderate  living,  this 
was  infufficient  without  affiftance  from  other 
quarters. 

Confideringhis  worldly  circumftances  and  the 
fcantinels  of  his  means,  he  was  uncommonly 
liberal — He  took  pleafure  in  miniftering  to  the 
relief   of   the   neceffitous.     Many  ftriking   in- 


:roduction. 

fiances  of  this,  though  conduced  with  fccrccy 
and  unaffected  modeily,  will  be  rer 
thofe,  who  experienced  his  liberality.  lie  uni- 
formly contributed,  on  quarterly  meetings  for 
prayer  ;  and,  on  one  of  thofe  occafions,  an 
hundred  dollars,  which  he  appropriated  to  the 
promotion  of  the  gofpel  among  the  Africans. 
This  was,  probably,  out  of  the  money  he  unex- 
pectedly received  for  the  copy-right  cf  his  "  Syf- 
tem,"  which  he  mentions  in  the  fketchcs  of  his 
life.  Without  this,  it  cannot  well  be  fuppofed, 
he  would  have  had  it  in  his  power  to  make  fo 
large  and  generous  a  donation.  To  have  the 
gofpel  preached  in  Africa,  and  the  knowledge  of 
divine  truth  diffufed  there,  was  an  object,  in  his 
view,  of  very  great  importance — His  mind  and 
his  heart  were  much  upon  it.  The  conviction 
he  had  of  the  wickednefs  of  enflaving  our  fellow 
men,  and  of  the  injuries  we  had  done  to  the 
nations  of  that  continent,  imprefled  him  with 
a  fenfe  of  peculiar  obligation  on  us,  to  contri- 
bute, as  far  as  in  our  power,  to  the  promotion 
of  their  fpirkual  good.  This,  he  conGdered,  as 
thebeft  compenfation  we  are  capable  of  making 
for  our  flagrant  abiffes  of  them,  and  the  very 
great  injuftice  we  have  done  them.  Nor  czn  wc 
exhibit  proper  evidence  of  genuine  repent 
toward  God,  for  the  wickednefs  of  which  we 
have  been  guilty  in  enflaving  the  negroes,  with- 


XVI  INTRODUCTION. 

out  much  exertion  to  bring  that  unhappy  people 
to  the  knowledge  and  acknowledgement  of  the 
truth  as  it  is  in  Jefus. 

Doctor  Hopkins  had  great  command  of  his  nat- 
ural temper — Unkind  treatment  from  others,  he 
bore  with  great  patience  and  meeknefs.  The  re- 
<naifitc  qualification  of  abifhop,  that  he  be  notfoon 
angry y  he  poflefled.  Paffionate  anger  was  rarely 
vifible  in  him — No  inftance  of  it  had  been  ob- 
ferved,  for  many  years  before  his  death.  Though 
far  from  being  unfeeling,  he  appeared  calm  and 
ferene  under  afflictions,  many  of  which  he  ex- 
perienced by  deaths  in  his  own  family,  and  by 
the  lofs  of  other  near  and  dear  friends.  That 
they  were  all  in  the  hand  of  Chrift,  feemed  to 
be  the  principal  fupport  and  comfort  of  his  heart. 

His  "  Treatife"  on  the  Millennium,  at  die  clofe 
of  the  "  Syftem  of  doctrines"  which  he  pub- 
lifhed  fome  few  years  before  his  death,  difcovers, 
not  only  his  firm  belief  and  joyful  hope  of  the 
coming  and  approach  of  that  happy  period  5  but,, 
his  careful  ftudy  and  great  application  to  the 
prophetic  writings,  and  comprehenfive  view,  and 
underftanding  of  the  general  fcheme  of  fcripture 
prophecy.  He  has  fixed  the  commencement  of 
this  happy  ftate  at  the  fame  period  with  other  the 
molt  noted  and  judicious  writers  on  the  fubject. 


INTRODUCTION-.  1V11 

At  the  clofe  of  the  trcatife,  he  gives  his  opinion 
what  events,  according  to  fcripture  prophecy, may- 
be expected  to  take  place,  before  the  commence- 
ment of  the  happy,  peaceful  ftate  of  the  church 
upon  earth.     How  far  the  opinion  he  has  given 
on  this  fubject  is  authorifed  and  fupported  by 
fcripture  authority,  every   reader  will  judge  for 
himfelf.     It  will  be    recollecied  that   this    \ 
publifhed,    A.  D.    1793,    and  muft,   of  courfe, 
have  been  written  and  prepared  fometime  before. 
That  feries  of  mighty  revolutions  and  remarka- 
ble events,  more   particularly  in  Europe,  which 
have,    fince,    aftonifhed    the   world,    had    then 
fcarcely  commenced.     But  no   attentive  reader, 
who  carefully  reviews  that  fcene  of  events,  and 
evils  of  various  kinds,  which   have  taken   pi 
fince  that  period,  can  help  observing   a  ftriking 
coincidence  of  the  fubiequent  events   with  the 
predictions.     So    vifible    a    correfpondence    of 
events,  and  thofe  of  various  and  different  kinds, 
with  what  the  Doctor  has    confidered  and  fore- 
told as  likely  to  take  place  previoufly  to  the  M 
lennium,  and  preparatory    to  it,  would  almoft 
lead  fome  to  think  that  he  was  end  i  a 

prophetic  fpirit.  So  far  from  this  however,  that 
be  himfelf  confidered  all  pretences  of  this  kind 
at  the  prefent  day,  by  whomever  made,  as 
wholly  without  foundation,  and  a  mark  and  evi- 
dence of  great  deluficn. 

B    2 


XV111  INTRODUCTION. 

But  themanifeft  agreement  of  events,  in  ma- 
ny refpeds,  with  what  he  has  predided  as  likely 
to  take  place,  may  reafonably  be  confidered  as 
fome  degree  of  evidence,  that  he  puts  a  juft  con- 
ftrudion  on  thofe  prophetic  v/ritings,  in  which 
he  fuppofes  thefe  events  to  be  foretold :  And, 
may  rather  ferve  to  ftrengthen,  not  only  our  be- 
lief in  prophecy  in  general,  but  our  expecSation 
of  a  fucceffive  train  of  evils  and  judgments  be- 
fore us.  In  this  view  of  the  matter,  we  may  be 
excited  to  greater  prayerfulnefs  and  vigilance — to 
watch,  and  keep  our  garments,  left  when,  our 
Lord  cometh,  we  be  found  naked  : — It  being 
one  obvious  defign  of  the  great  Head  of  the 
church,  in  forewarning  his  people  of  the  dangers 
before  them,  and  the  evils  he  is  about  to  bring  on 
diem  and  on  the  world,  to  excite  them  to  expert 
and  be  prepared  for  them  ;  that  when  they  actual- 
ly ccme,  they  might  not  faint,  nor  their  faith  fail. 

The  intereft,  which  is  felt  in  the  lives  of  fuch 
as  have  been  eminent  for  piety  and  ufefulnefs, 
naturally  excites  a  defire  to  know  fomething  of 
the  manner  in  which  they  finifhed  their  courfe> 
and  the  character  and  appearance  they  exhibited 
at  the  clofmg  fcene.  In  this  view  the  following 
extract  from  a  letter,  written  by  a  judicious 
friend  in  Newport,  who  was  much  with  him  in 
the  laft  fcenes  of  his  life,  may  be  gratifying  to 
manv. 


INTRODUCTION.  .  XIX 

'<  Lait  May,  (that  is,  May,  1803,)  the  Doc- 
«  tor  had  a  very  fevcre  fever,  by  which  he  was 
"  brought  to  the  door  of  death  ;  yet  recovered 
€(  fo  far  as  to  preach  in  July,  and  continued  to 
"  preach  until  a  young  man,  whom  he  fent  for, 
"  came  to  aflift  him,  who  was  here  four  Sab- 
"  baths,  and  then  left  us — The  Doctor  then, 
u  though  with  diiHculty,  preached  five  Sabbaths, 
"  the  laft  of  which  was  the   16th   of  October. 

*  He  faid,  when  he  got  home,  that  now  he  had 
m  done — he  could  preach  no  more  !  though  he 
"  was  not  fick,  only  feeble,  and  much  fatigued 
* — his  text,  1  Peter,  v.  8.  He  flept  comforta- 
"  bly,  that  night  $  but,  in  the  morning,  feemed 

*  to  be  poorly  ;  and,  after  breakfaft,  lay  down 
c;  about  two  hours  and  flept,  then  waked,  told 
"  me  he  was  almoft  gone,  and  in  a  few  minutes 
<•'  went  into  a  ftrong  convulfion  fit,  which  was 
"  thought  to  be  apoplectic,  and  had  all  the  ap- 

arance    of  death.     But,  by   the   ble  fling  of 

*  God  on  the   exertions,  which  were  made,  he 

*  was  brought  to  his  fenfes  before  night.  Sooa 
"  after  he  was   feized  with  a  violent  dyfentery, 

*  which  reduced  him  very  low  indeed  :  Yet  he 
"  recovered  fo  far  as  to  fit  up  in  the  eafy-chair 

*  two  or  three  hours  in  a  day  ;  but  never  had 
"  any  appetite  for  food — and,  for  the  whole 
"  nine  weeks  which  he  lived,  hardly  took  an 
«  ounce  of  folid  food* 


XX  INTRODUCTION. 

"  I  efteemed  it  a  peculiar  favor  that  the  Doo 
"  tor  was  fpared,  though  in  fuch  a  ftate  of  weak- 
H  nefs,  that  he  had  an  opportunity  of  converfing 
«  but  a  little  with  his  friends,  to  exhibit  a  moft 
"  ftriking  example  of  patience  and  fubmiflion  to 
"  the  divine  will. 

"  He  poflefled  an  uninterrupted  peace  ;  and 
"  though  he  could  fay  but  little,  through  his  great 
•f  inward  weaknefs,  yet  he  feemed  to  dwell  in 
"  the  cleared  views  of  divine  truth.  The  glory, 
"  which  would  arife  to  God,  in  the  falvation  of 
**  finners,  filled  his  foul  with  ineffable  joy.  He 
"  had  not  one  anxious  thought  about  death — re-  * 
"  joiced  that  he  was  in  the  hand  of  Chrift,  and 
"  wholly  at  his  difpofal.  He  thought  much 
"  on  thofe  words  "  the  glory  that  Jhould  follow  /" 
u  — Said  he  fometimes  had  the  joy  of  faith.  He 
"  was  greatly  refrefhed  to  fee  the  wonderful 
"  work  of  God,  in  the  congregation,  under  the 
"  preaching  cf  the  man,  whom  he  introduced  •, 
"  and,  gave  his  approbation  and  bleffing  to  thofe, 
M  who  joined  the  church  at  this  time — ". 

p  He  fenfibly  declined  for  better  than  two 
w  weeks  \  and,  for  more  than  two  days,  his 
«  bodily  diftrefs  was  beyond  defcription.  He 
u  felt  himfelf  going,  and  faid  he  was  willing. 
u  His  reafon  was  perfect  to  the  laft,  and  his  pa- 


INTRODUCTION.  XKl 

"  tience,  in  his  agonies,  aftonifhing.  After  a 
ft  very  diftrcfling  turn  we  laid  him  down  in  his 
"  bed — he  fcemed  eaficr  ;  and  while  a  number 
"  of  us  were  fitting  round  him,  he  breathed  his 
"  lad  without  a  figli  or  a  groan — nor  could  *we 
•  tell  the  moment  in  which  he  went !" 

Thus  died  this  excellent  man,  who  has  been 
fo  great  a  blefling,  and  whofe  praife  is  in  the 
churches.  Mark  the  perfeel  many  and  bthold  the 
upright i  for  the  end  of  that  man  is  peace.  Though 
his  perfonal  labors  on  earth  are  at  an  end,  their 
happy  and  beneficial  effects  ftill  remain,  and  are 
and  will  be  thankfully  enjoyed  and  rejoiced  in  by 
many.  Though  he  is  gone,  the  excellent  wri- 
tings he  has  left  behind  him,  are  ftill  read  with 
pleafure  and  profit ;  and  generations  yet  to  come, 
we  truft,  will  receive  benefit  and  inftrudlion 
from  them. 

That  the  following  "  (ketches"  of  the  life  of 
the  late  Do£lor  Hopkins  may  be  entertaining,  ■ 
inftru&ive  and  ufeful — That  they  may  excite 
thankful  acknowledgements  to  God  for  his  great 
mercy  inraifing  up  fo  eminently  faithful  a  fervant, 
fo  long  preferving  his  valuable  life,  and  ftrength- 
ening  him  to  go  through  fuch  a  feries  of  ufeful 
labors — That  they  may  awaken  the  friends  of 
Chrift  to  earneft  and  conftant  prayerfulnefs,  that 


XXII  INTRODUCTION. 

a  double  portion  of  the  excellent  fpirit,  which 
appeared  to  be  in  him,  might  defcend  and  reft 
on  his  brethren  in  the  miniftry,  whom  he  has 
left  behind — And  efpecially,  that  they  may  be 
the  means  of  quickening  miniflers  of  the  gofpel 
to  application,  to  duty  and  to  faithfulnefs,  and 
to  more  conftant,  earned  prayerfulnefs  to  God 
— That  thefe  may  be  the  happy  effects  of  the 
publication  of  the  following  "  life,"  is  the  defire 
and  prayer  of  the 

EDITOR. 


LIFE  OF 

SAMUEL  HOPKINS,  D.  D, 


SOME  brief  Jketches  of  my  pafl  life,  which  I  am 
induced  to  recoiled,  and  commit  to  writing,  for 
my  own  benefit,  and  for  the  gratification,  and> 
perhaps,  advantage  of  thofe  of  my  particular 
friends,  and  relatives,  who  jhall  furvive  me  ; 
being  now  in  the  feventy-fifth  year  of  my  age. 

1  WAS  born  at  Waterbury  in  Connedli- 
cut,  on  the  Lord's  day,  September  17,  1721, 
My  parents  were  profeflbrs  of  religion ;  and  I 
defcended  from  chriftian  anceftors,  both  by  my 
father  and  my  mother,  as  far  back  as  I  have  been 
able  totrace  my  defcent.  I  conclude  I  and  my  an- 
ceftors defcended  from  thofe  called  Puritans  in  the 
days  of  queen  Elizabeth,  above  two  hundred  years 
ago,  and  have  continued  to  bear  that  denomina- 
tion, fince,  and  were  the  firft  fettlers  of  New- 
England.     This  I  have  confidered  to  be  the  mod 


24  LIFE  OF 

honourable  and  happy  defcent,  to  fpring  from 
ancestors,  who  have  been  profeflbrs  of  religion, 
without  interruption  during  the  courfe  of  two 
hundred  years,  and  more  :  and  many  of  them,  if 
not  all  real  chrijlians.  And  I  have  confidered  it 
as  a  favour  that  I  was  born  on  the  fabbath,  and 
was  perhaps  publicly  dedicated  to  Chrilt  by  bap- 
tifm  on  the  day  in  which  I  was  born  ;  and  if 
not,  certainly  foon  after. 

As  foon  as  I  was  capable  of  underftanding, 
and  attending  to  it,  I  was  told  that  my  father, 
when  he  was  informed  that  he  had  a  fon  born  to 
him,  faid,  if  the  child  fhould  live,  he  would 
give  him  a  public  education,  that  he  might  be  a 
minilter  or  a  fabbath-day-man,  alluding  to  my 
being  born  on  the  fabbath. 

I  was  the  fir  ft  child  of  my  parents  that  lived. 
They  had  one  before,  which  was  not  alive  when 
born,  or  died  as  foon  as  born.  My  mother  was 
twenty  years  old  when  I  was  born,  and  my 
father  thirty. 

I  have  confidered  it  as  a  great  favour  of  God, 
that  I  was  born  and  educated  in  a  religious  fam- 
ily, and  among  a  people,  in  a  country  town, 
where  a  regard  to  religion  and  morality  was 
common  and  prevalent ;  and  the  education  of 


samoel  ■MCIM*  25 

children  and  youth  was  generally  pratlifed  in 
fuch  a  degree  that  young  people  were  generally 
orderly  in  their  behaviour,  and  abftained  from 
thofe  open  vices,  which  were  then  too  common 
in  feaport  and  populous  places.  I  do  not  recoi- 
led that  I  ever  heard  a  profane  word  from  the 
children  and  youth,  with  whom  I  was  conver- 
fant,  while  I  lived  with  my  parents,  which  was 
till  I  was  in  my  fifteenth  year. 

I  from  my  youth  was  not  volatile  and  wild, 
but  rather  of  a  fober  and  fteady  make,  and  was 
not  guilty  of  external  irregularities,  fuch  as  dif- 
obedience  to  parents,  profanation  of  the  fabbath, 
lying,  foolifh   jelling,  quarrelling,   paflion    and 
anger,  or  ram  and  profane  words  ;  and  was  dif- 
pofed  to  be  diligent  and  faithful  in  whatever  bu- 
finefs  I  was  employed  ;  fo  that  as  I  advanced  in 
age,  I  gained  the  notice,  efteem  and  refpect  of 
the  neighbourhood.     I  was,  in  general,  greatly 
carelefs  about  all  invifible  things  ;  but  was  often 
plotting  for  fomething,  which  then  appeared  to 
me  good  and  great  in  this  life  ;  and  often  indul- 
ged  and   pleafed  myfelf  with  vain  and   foolifh 
imaginations  of  what  I  fliould  be  and  do  in  this 
world.     And    fometimes,    though   rarely,    had 
fome  ferious   thoughts   of  God,  and  about  my 
fool  and  a  future  world  of  happinefs  and  mifery. 
And  I  once  had  a  dream  of  the  future  judgment, 
c 


20  LIFE  OF 

in  fome  meafure  agreeable  to  the  reprefentation 
made  of  it  by  Chrift  himfelf  in  the  xxvth  chapter 
of  Matthew.  I  dreamed  that  I  and  a  brother  of 
mine,  who  was  about  two  years  younger  than 
me,  were  fentenced  to  everlafting  mifery,  and 
driven  down  to  hell,  with  the  reft  of  the  wicked. 
This  greatly  imprefled  my  mind,  for  a  long  time 
after.  And  the  impreffion  then  made  has  not 
wholly  worn  off  to  this  day. 

As  my  father  was  a  farmer,  I  was  employed 
in  labouring  on  the  farm,  with  which  bufinefs  I 
was  pleafed,  and  made  proficiency  in  it.  I  was 
frequently  told,  and  often  thought  of  the  decla- 
ration of  my  father  on  the  day  on  which  I  was 
born,  that  he  ivculd  bring  me  up  to  college,  as  the 
phrafe  then  was  for  a  public  education.  But  I 
felt  no  particular  inclination  to  this  ;  but  was 
rather  inclined  to  labour  on  a  farm  :  But  what 
always  turned  my  mind  againft  going  to  college, 
was  the  years  of  abfence  from  my  parents  and 
their  family,  which  were  involved  in  it.  Such 
abfence  was  intolerable  to  my  childifh  mind,  and 
was  fufficient  tp  iupprefs  the  thought  of  going 
to  learning. 

But  in  the  winter  after  I  was  fourteen  years  old , 
I  retired  much  to  a  chamber  in  my  father's  houfe^ 
and  fpent  confiderable  time  in  reading,  efpecialljr 


SAMUEL  HOPX,  27 

Tcading  the  bible  ;  and  began  to  feel  more  incli 
tion  to  learning,  and  lefs  to  working  on  a  f 
our  farming  budnefs  did  not  go  on  fo  well  as  it  had 
done,  by  reafon  of  fome  particular  circumftanccs 
which  had  taken  place.  When  my  father  per- 
ceived this,  he  told  me,  if  I  was  inclined  to  go 
to  learning,  he  would  put  me  to  a  icve 

I  might  be  fitted  for  the  college.  To  which  I 
readily  confented.  Accordingly,  I  was  put 
under  the  care  and  tuition  of  the  Rev.  John 
Graham  of  Woodbury,  which  joined  Weft  or 
terbury,  his  meeting-houfe  being  about  ten 
miles  from  my  father's  houfe.  Here  I  fitted  for 
college,  with  a  number  of  others  ;  and  was  ex- 
amined and  admitted  a  member  of  college  in 
September  1737,  being  fix  teen  year  j  old  on  the 
feventeenth  day  of  that  month. 

While  a  member  of  the  college,  I  believe,  I 
had  the  character  of  a  fober,  ftudious  youth, 
and  of  a  better  fcholar  than  the  bigger  half  of 
the  members  of  that  fociety  *,  and  had  the  ap- 
probation of  the  govcrnours  of  the  college.  I 
avoided  the  intimacy  and  the  company  of  the 
openly  vicious  ;  and  indeed  kept  but  little  com- 
pany, being  attentive  to  my  itudies.  In 
eighteenth  or  nineteenth  year  of  my  age,  I  can- 
not now  certainlv  determine  which,  I  made  a 


28  LIFE  OF 

profeflion  of  religion,  and  joined  the  church  to 
which  my  parents  belonged  in  Waterbury.     I 

•  was  ferious,  and  was  thought  to  be  a  pious  youth, 
and  I  had  this  thought  and  hope  of  myfelf.  I 
was  con-ftaat  in  reading  the  bible,  and  in  attend- 
ing on  public  and  fecret  religion.  And  fome- 
times  at  night,  in  my  retirement  and  devotion, 
when  I  thought  of  confeffing  the  fins  I  had  been 
guilty  of  that  day,  and  afking  pardon,  I  could 
not  recollect  that  I  had  committed  one  fin  that 
day.  Thus  ignorant  was  I  of  my  own  heart,  and 
of  the  fpirituality,  ftri&nefs  and  extent  of  the  di- 
vine law  !  !  In  this  time  I  was  at  home,  in  a 
vacancy  at  college  j  and  feveral  men,  who  were 
grofs  Arminians,  entered  into  a  difpute  with  me 
about  dodirines  and  religion.  I  was  in  theory  a 
Calvinift,  and  attempted  to  defend  that  fcheme 
of  doctrines,  in  oppofition  to  them.  In  thefe 
we  could  not  agree  :  But  when  we  came  to  talk 
of  practical  religion,  and  of  converfion,  I  agreed 
with  them,  allowing  it  to  confift  chiefly  in  ex- 

*  ternals,  overlooking  the  real  and  total  depravity 
of  the  heart,  and  the  renovation  and  great  change 
which  muft  take  place  in  that,  in  order  to  true 
converfion  and  the  exercife  of  real  religion, 
having  never  experienced  any  thing  of  this  kind. 
My  mother  heard  the  conversation  ;  and  after  the 
company  was  gone,  fhe  told  me,  {he  was  fur- 
prized  to  hear  me  agree  with  them  in  their  no- 


SAMUEL  HOPKINS. 

tion  of  converfion  -,  and  that  I  fhould  think  r 
converfion  was  no  more  than  that  which  I  and 
they  had  defcribed.  This  put  me  upon  thinking, 
and  railed  a  fufpicion  in  my  own  mind  that  I 
ranger  to  real  converfion.  But  it  wore 
off,  without  any  abiding  conviction  of  my  defi- 
ciency. 

From  this  experience  of  mine,  I  have  been 
led  to  fear,  and,  in  many  inftances,  to  conclude 
perfons  to  be  flrangers  to  true  converfion,  v 
appear  to  have  the  fame  or  no  better  notion  of  it, 
than  I  then  had,  and  talk  much  as  I  did  on  that: 
head,  while  they  profefs  to  believe  Galviniiiic 
doctrines,  though  they  choofe  to  be  confidered 
as  moderate  Calvinifts.  There  are  many  of  this 
fort  of  profefiing  chriftians,  with  whom  I  h 
been  acquainted.  When  perfons  build  up 
fuch  a  falfe  foundation,  and  let  cut  in  religion, 
i  think  themfelves  chriftians,  without  being 
i  of  G:d>  and  continue  flrangers  to  a  true 
I  found  converfion  ;  they  will  be  inclined  to 
eppofe  or  flight  the  mod  important  and  excel- 
lent exercifes  cf  experimental  religion,  and  will 
be  dry  and  fruitlefs  chriftians,  and- ignorant  of 
true  religious  affections  and  enjoyments.  And 
it  will  be  no  wonder  if  they  loofe  all  their  zeal 
for  the  peculiar  doctrines  of  the  gcfpel,  and 
c  2 


30  LIFE  OF 

grow  indifferent  about  them  ;  if  they  do  not 
gradually  give  them  up,  and  renounce  them. 

While  I  was  in  this  ftate  and  fituation  of  mind, 
Mr.  Whitefield  came  into  New-England ;  and 
nfter  he  had  preached  in  Bofton,  and  other  places* 
came  to  New-Haven,  in  his  way  to  New- York. 
The  attention  of  people  in  general  was  greatly 
awakened  upon  hearing  the  fame  of  him,  that 
there  was  a  remarkable  preacher  from  England 
travelling  through  the  country.  The  people 
flocked  to  hear  him,  when  he  came  to  New- 
Haven.  Some  travelled  twenty  miles  out  of  the 
country  to  hear  him.  The  aflemblies  were 
crowded  and  remarkably  attentive ;  and  people 
appeared  generally  to  approve,  and  their  con- 
verfation  turned  chiefly  about  him  and  his 
preaching.  Some  difapproved  of  feveral  things 
which  he  advanced,  which  occafioned  confider- 
able  difpute.  I  heard  him  when  he  preached  in 
public,  and  when  he  expounded  in  private  in  the 
evening  ;  and  highly  approved  of  him;  and  was 
fomewhat  imprefled  by  what  he  faid  in  public 
and  in  private ;  but  did  not  in  the  leaft  call  in 
queftion  my  own  good  eftate,  that  I  remember. 
He  preached  againft  mixed  dancing  and  frolicing 
of  males  and  females  together  :  which  practice 
was  then  very  common  in  New-England.  This 
offended  fome,  efpecially  young  people.     But  I 


SAMUEL  HOPKINS.  jZ 

remember  I  juftified  him  in  this  in  my  own 
mind,  and  in  converfation  with  thofe  who  were 
difpofed  to  condemn  him.  This  was  in  October 
1740,  when  I  had  entered  on  my  laft  year  in 
college. 

During  that  fall  and  the  fucceeding  winter, 
there  appeared  to  be  much  more  attention  to 
religion,  than  before,  among  people  in  general  : 
And  a  number  of  minifters  in  New-England 
were  aroufed,  and  preached  oftener  than  they 
had  done,  and  appeared  much  more  engaged 
and  zealous,  than  before  ;  and  feveral  came  to 
New-Haven  and  preached  in  a  manner  fo  differ- 
ent from  what  had  been  ufual,  that  people  in 
general  appeared  to  be  in  feme  meafure  awaken- 
ed, and  more  thoughtful  on  religious  fubjects, 
they  had  been  before. 

Early  in  the  next  fpring,  in  March,  Mr. 
Gilbert  Tennent,  who  had  been  itinerating  in 
New-England,  in  Be  (Ion  and  other  places  in  the 
winter,  came  to  New-Haven  from  Bofton,  in  his 
way  to  the  fouthward.  He  was  a  remarkably 
plain  and  roufing  preacher,  and  a  remarkable 
awakening  had  been  produced  by  his  preaching, 
nd  many  hopeful  converfions  had  taken  place 
under  his  preaching,  where  he  had  itinerated. 
On  his  coming  to  New-Haven,  the  people  ap- 


32  LIFE  OF 

pearcd  to  be  almoft  univerfally  aroufed,  and 
flocked  to  hear  him.  He  flayed  about  a  week 
in  New-Haven,  and  preached  feventeen  fermons, 
moil  of  them  in  the  meeting-houfe  •,  two  or 
three  in  the  college  hall.  His  preaching  appear- 
ed to  be  attended  with  a  remarkable  and  mighty 
power.  Thoufands,  I  believe,  were  awakened  ; 
and  many  cried  out  with  diftrefs  and  horror  of 
mind,  under  a  conviftion  of  God's  anger,  and 
their  conftant  expofednefs  to  fall  into  endlefs  de- 
finition. Many  profeflbrs  of  religion  received 
conviction  that  they  were  not  real  chriftians,  and 
never  were  born  again  ;  which  numbers  publicly 
confefled,  and  put  up  notes,  without  mentioning 
their  names,  but  their  number  y  defiring  prayers 
for  them  as  unconverted,  and  under  this  convic- 
tion. The  members  of  college  appeared  to  be 
univerfally  awakened.  A  fmall  number  thought 
themfelves  chriftians  before  they  came  to  college, 
and  I  believe  were  fo.  Several  of  thefe  appear- 
ed with  an  extraordinary  zeal,  and  concern  for 
the  members  of  college  ;  and  without  paying 
regard  to  the  diftindtions  of  higher  and  lower 
claffes,  they  vifited  every  room  in  college,  and 
difcourfed  freely  and  with  the  greateft  plainnefs 
with  each  one  ;  efpecially  fuch  whom  they  con- 
fidered  to  be  in  an  unconverted  ftate,  and  who 
acknowledged  themfelves  to  be  fo,  fetting  before 
them  their  danger,  and  exhorting  them  to  re- 


SAMUEL  HOPKINS. 

pent,  &c.  The  confciences  of  all  feemcd  to 
be  fo  far  awakened  as  to  lead  them  to  hang  their 
heads,  and  to  pay  at  leaii  a  filent  regard  to  their 
reprovers.  And  every  perfon  in  the  college  ap- 
peared to  be  under  a  degree  of  awakening  and 
conviction.  The  perfons  above  mentioned,  who 
thus  diftinguifhed  thcmfelves  in  zeal  were  two 
of  them  my  clafs-mates,  Buell  and  Youngs. 
The  other  was  David  Brainard.  I  attended  to 
"he  whole,  and  approved  of  all  they  faid  and  did. 
But  retained  my  hope  that  I  was  a  chriftian,  and 
had  little  or  no  converfation  with  thefe  zealous 
men.  At  length  Brainard  came  into  my  room, 
I  being  there  alone.  I  was  not  at  a  lofs  with  re- 
fpecl:  to  his  defign  in  making  me  a  vifit  then  ; 
determining  that  he  came  to  fatisfy  himfelf 
whether  I  were  a  chriftian,  or  not.  And  I  re- 
folved  to  keep  him  in  the  dark,  and  if  poflible 
prevent  his  getting  any  knowledge  of  my  ftate 
or  religion.  I  was  therefore  wholly  on  the  re- 
ferve,  being  confeious  that  I  had  no  religious 
experiences,  or  religious  affections  to  tell  of. 
In  his  converfation  with  me,  he  obferved  that  he 
believed  it  impoffible  for  a  perfon  to  be  converted 
and  to  be  a  real  chriftian  without  feeling  his  heart, 
at  fometimes  at  leaft,  fenfibly  and  greatly  affect- 
ed with  the  character  of  Chrift,  and  ftrongly 
going  out  after  him  ;  or  to  that  purpofe. — This 
obfervation  ftruck  conviction  into  my  mind.     I 


34  LIFE  OF 

verily  believed  it  to  be  true,  and  at  the  fame  time, 
was  confcious  that  I  had  never  experienced  any 
thing  of  this  kind  ;  and  that  I  was  a  ftranger  to 
the  exercife  cf  real  chriftianity.  I  then  deter- 
mined that  no  one  fhould  know  from  me,  or 
any  other  way,  if  I  could  prevent  it,  that  I  was 
not  a  chriftian,  until  I  fhould  be  converted  : 
For  it  was  mortifying  to  my  pride  to  be  thought 
to  be  no  chriftianj  having  made  a  chriftian  pro- 
feffion,.  and  having  had  the  charadter  of  a  chrif- 
tian for  fome  time  ;  though  I  now  knew  myfelf 
not  to  be  one.  Brainard  took  his  leave  of  me 
without  bringing  me  to  put  off  my  referve  ;  and 
what  he  then  thought  of  me,  I  know  not  ;  but 
believe  he  ftrongly  fufpe&ed,  if  he  did  not 
without  hefitation  conclude,  that  I  was  not  a 
chriftian. 

My  convi&ion  fixed  upon  me.  I  faw  I  was 
indeed  no  chriftian.  The  evil  of  my  heart,  the 
hardncfs  and  unbelief  of  it  came  more  and  more 
into  view  ;  and  the  evil  cafe  in  which  I  was,  ap- 
peared more  and  more  dreadful.  I  felt  myfelf 
a  guilty,  juftly  condemned  creature,  and  my 
hope  of  relief  by  obtaining  converfion  failed 
more  and  more,  and  my  condition  appeared 
darker  from  day  to  day,  and  all  help  failed,  and 
I  felt  myfelf  to  be  nothing  but  ignorance,  guilt 
and  ftupidity.     I  now  loft  all  defire  to  conceal 


SAMUEL  HOPKINS.  35 

my  cafe  from  thofe  whom  I  confidercd  to  be 
chriftians,  ami  freely  opened  it  to  fome  of  them. 
They  appeared  particularly  to  intcrcft  themfelves 
in  my  condition,  and  often  converfed  with  me, 
and  afked  me  if  I  had  any  new  views,  &c. 
I  conltantly  told  them  I  was  (till  the  fame,  in  an 
unconverted  (late,  &c.  Thus  I  continued  for 
fome  v/eeks,  generally  retired,  unlefs  when  I 
attended  private  meetings  of  young  people,  for 
prayer,  &c.  which  were  frequent  then  in  college, 
and  in  the  town. 

At  length  as  I  was  in  my  clofet  one  evening, 
while  I  was  meditating,  and  in  my  devotions,  a 
new  and  wonderful  fcene  opened  to  my  view. 
I  had  a  fenfe  of  the  being  and  prefence  of  God, 
as  I  never  had  before  ;  it  being  more  of  a  reality, 
and  more  affecting  and  glorious,  than  I  had  ever 
before  perceived.  And  the  character  of  Jefus 
Chrift  the  mediator  came  into  view,  and  ap- 
peared fuch  a  reality,  and  fo  glorious  •,  and  the 
way  of  falvation  by  him  fo  wife,  important  and 
defirable,  tlr^t  I  was  aflonifhed  at  myfelf  that  I 
had  never  feen  thefe  things  before,  which  were 
fo  plain,  pleafing  and  wonderful.  I  longed  to 
have  all  fee  and  L  bings  as  they  now 

appeared  to  me.     I  was  greatly  affected,  in  the 
view  of  my  own  dep; 
and  odioufnefs  of  my  tt ;  and  tears  fl< 


36  UPE  0* 

ed  in  great  plenty.  After  fome  time  I  left  my 
clofet,  and  went  into  the  adjoining  room,  no 
other  perfon  being  then  there.  I  walked  the 
room,  all  intent  on  thefe  fubje£te,  and  took  up 
Watts's  verfion  of  the  pfalms,  and  opened  it  at 
the  fifty-firft  pfalm,  and  read  the  firft,  fecond 
and  third  parts  in  long  metre  with  ftrong  affec- 
tions, and  made  it  all  my  own  language,  and 
thought  it  was  the  language  of  my  heart  to  God  ; 
I  dwelled  upon  it  with  pleafure,  and  wept  much. 
And  when  I  had  laid  the  book  afide,  my  mind 
continued  fixed  on  the  fubje£t,  and  in  the  exer- 
cife  of  devotion,  confeffion,  adoration,  petition, 
Sec.  in  which  I  feemed  to  pour  out  my  heart  to 
God  with  great  freedom.  I  continued  all  atten- 
tion to  the  things  of  religion,  in  which  moft  ap- 
peared more  or  lefs  engaged.  There  were  many 
inftances,  as  was  then  fuppofed,  of  converfion. 
I  felt  a  peculiar,  pleafing  affe&ion  to  thofe,  who 
were  fuppofed  to  be  chriftians. 

But  two  things  appear,  now,  to  me  remark- 
able, with  refpeft  to  my  views  arid  exercifes 
which  I  have  juft  now  mentioned.  Firft  y  I  had 
not  then  the  leaft  thought  or  fufpicion  that  what 
I  had  experienced  was  converfion,  or  any  thing 
like  it,  nor  did  fuch  a  thought  enter  my  mind, 
fo  far  as  I  can  recollect,  till  near  a  year  after 
this,  or  if  any  fuch  thought  was  fuggefted  at  any 


SAMUEL  HOrk.  37 

time,  it  was  immediately  rejected.  I  had  for- 
med an  idea  in  my  mind  of  converfion,  what 
perfons  who  were  converted  mult  be,  and  how 
they  muft  feel,  which  was  fo  entirely  different 
from  that  which  I  had  feen  and  felt,  that  I  was 
fo  far  from  a  thought  that  I  was  converted,  that 
I  thought  I  knew  I  was  not,  and  made  no  fcru- 
plc  to  tell  my  friends  fo,  from  time  to  time. 
Sc\:ndlyy  I  do  not  recollect  that  I  faid  a  word  to 
anypcrfon  living  of  thefe  exercifes,  or  gave  the 
lead  hint  of  them  to  any  one  for  almoft  a  year 
after  they  took  place.  I  did  not  think  they 
were  worth  fpeaking  of,  being  nothing  like  con- 
verfion.  And  by  degrees  I  ceafed  to  recollect 
any  thing  of  them,  ftill  hoping  and  looking  for 
fomething  greater  and  better,  and  of  quite  a  dif- 
ferent kind. 

When    I  heard   Mr.  Tennent,  as  mend 
above,  I  thought  he  was  the  greateft    and   beft 

D)  and  the  belt  preacher  that  I  had  ever  feeit 
or  heard.  His  words  were  tome,  "  like  apples 
of  gold  in  pictures  of  fiiver."  And  I  then 
thought  that  when  I  ihould  leave  the  college,  as 
I  was  then  in  my  laft  year,  I  would  go  and  live 
with  him,  wherever  I  fhould  find  him.  But 
juft  before  the  commencement  in  Sept/nuer, 
when  I  was  to  take  my  degree,  on  th  ith 

day  of  which  month  \  was  twenty  years  old,  Mr. 


LIFE  OF 

ids  of  Northampton  came  to  New-Haven, 
^nd  preached.     He  then  preached  the  fermon  on 

trial  of  the  fpiritsy  which   was   afterwards 

red.  I  had  before  read  his  fermons  on  jufti- 
.kation,   &c.  and  his  narrative   of  the  remarka- 

converfions  at  Northampton,  which  took  place 
about  feven  years  before  this.  Though  I  then 
did  not  obtain  any  perfonal  acquaintance  with 
him,  any  farther  than  by  hearing  him  preach  : 
vet  I  conceived  fuch  an  efteem  of  him,  and  was 
jo  pleafed  with  his  preaching,  that  I  altered  my 

ner  determination  with  refpect  to  Mr.  Ten- 
nent,  and  concluded  to  go  and  live  with  Mr. 
Edwards,  as  foon  as  Ifhould  have  opportunity, 
though  he  lived  about  eighty  miles  from  my 
father's  houfe. 

After  I  had  taken  my  firft  degree,  which  was 
in  September  1741,  I  retired  to  my  father's  in 
Waterbury.  And  being  deje&ed  and  very 
gloomy  in  my  mind,  I  lived  a  reclufe  life  for  fome 
months.  Confidering  myfelf  as  a  finful  loft 
creature,  I  fpent  moft  of  my  time  in  reading, 
meditation  and  prayer ;  and  fpent  many  w^hole 
days  in  fading  and  prayer.  My  attention  turn- 
ed chiefly  to  my  own  finfulnefs,  and  as  being 
wholly  loft  in  myfelf,  of  which  I  had  an  increaf- 
ing  convi&ion.  But  I  alfo  attended  to  the  ftate 
of  religion  in  the  vicinity.     There  was  a  general 


SAMUEL  HOP'v 

and  uncommon  attention  to  religion,  an 
preaching  by  minilters  who  went    from 
town,  but  oppolition  was  made  to  the  revival  of 
religion,  which    now  began  to  irtcr 
minillers  and  people.     Some  c 
evil  work,  in  the  whole  of  it.     Others   zllov 
there  was  fome  good  attending  it  :  but 
greatly  to  many  things    which  took  p: 
were  pra6tifed  by  the  friends  and  fi 
work,  as  imprudent  and  wrong.     I  was 
advocate  for  the  doctrines  preached   by  the  min- 
illers who  were   inftrumetita  of  prcmoi' 
revival,  and  for  the  practices  of  thole  who  w 
the  lubjecSts  of  it,  and  were  fuppofed  to  be  con- 
verted.    It  is  true,  there  were  fome  things  I 
and  pra&iied,  which  I  did  not    underftand, 
fully  fee  through.     But  as  I  considered    them 
chridians,  and    myfelf  as  not   one,  and  cqi 
quently   ignorant  and    incapable    of  judging,  I 
concluded  they  mud  be   right.     I  fpent  days  in 
fading   and   prayer,  ft  of 

that  which  to  me  appeared  to   be   true  religion, 
and  the  fuppreflionof  all  oppofition  to  it.     I  en- 
deavoured to  promote  religion  among  tfo 
people  in  the  town  :  and  encouraged  them  who 
were  attentive  and  concerned  to  meet    tog^ 
for  grayer,  and   to   fpend    day  i 
prayer  together   ;    efpecially     thole    who   v 
thought  to  be  converted.     When  I  faw  perfons, 


40  LIFE  OF 

whom  I  confidered  to  be  unconverted,  I  felt  dif- 
pofed  to  pray  for  them  that  they  might  be  con- 
verted and  faved  ;  and  felt  great  concern  for 
lome  individuals  of  this  character. 

In  the  month  of  December,  being  furnifhed 
with  a  horfe,  &c.  I  fet  out  for  Northampton, 
with  a  view  to  live  with  Mr.  Edwards,  where  I 
was  an  utter  (tranger.  When  I  arrived  there, 
Mr.-  Edwards  was  not  at  home  ;  but  was  re* 
ceived  with  great  kindnefs  by  Mrs.  Edwards  and 
the  family,  and  had  encouragement  that  I  might 
live  there  during  the  winter.  Mr.  Edwards  was 
abroad  on  a  preaching  tour,  as  people  in  gene- 
ral were  greatly  attentive  to  religion  and  preach- 
ing, which  was  attended  with  remarkable  effects, 
in  the  conviction  and  fuppofed  converfion  of 
tttudes.  I  was  very  gloomy  and  was  moil  of 
the  time  retired  in  my  chamber.  After  fome- 
days  Mrs.  Edwards  come  into  my  chamber,  and 
laid,  «  As  I  was  now  become  one  of  the* family 
a  feaibn,  fiie  felt  herfelf  interefted  in  my 
.welfare  ;  and  ihe  obferved  that  I  appeared  gloomy 

I  dejected,  ihe  hoped  I  would  not  think  fts: 

intruded  by   defirihg   to    know,  and  afking  me 

it  was  the  occafion  of  it,"  or  to   that  pur- 

Ce.  w  I  told  her,  the  freedom  me  uied  was  a- 
greeable  to  me  \  that  the  occafion  of  the 

trance  which  ihe  mentioned  was  the  (late  is 


[UBL  hop:  4? 

which  I  considered  myfelf.     I  was  in  a  ChriiL 
gracelei  tui  had  been  under  a  d 

convi£U<fll,  and  concern    for  myfelf  for  a  num- 
ber of  months  :     Had  got  no  relief,  and  my  cafe, 
jad   of   growing  better,    appeared  to   grow 
worfe.     Upon  which  we  entered  into  a  free  c 
verfation.      And   on  the  whole  fhe  told  me, 
(lie  had  peculiar  exercifes  repealing  me,  fince  I 
had  been  in  the  family  •,  that  flie  trufted  I  mould 
receive  light  and  comfort,  and  doubted  not  that 
God  intended  yet  to  do  great  things  by  me,  &c. 
This  converfation  did  not  fenfibly  raffe  n 
in  the  leafl  degree.     My  views  of  myfelf   v 
fuch,  and    my  profpect   and  hope  :  ;ood 

were  fo  low,  that  I  then  paid  no  f 
to  what  (he  faid. 

Religion  was  now  at  a  lower  c 
sunpton,  than  it   had  been    of  I 
appeared  to  be  in  the 

New-England  in  general.     In  the  month  of 
January  Mr.  Buell,  my  clafs-mate,  whom  I  r 
tioned  before,    came   to    Northampton, 
commenced  a  zealous  preacher  cf  the 
and  was  the  means  of  greatly  rhe  peo- 

ple to  zeal  in  religion.     He  preached  every  days 
and  fometimes   twice  a   day   publicly,  Mr.  Ed- 
wards being  out  of  town,  preaching    i 
towns.     Frofsfiing   chriftians  appeared  gre 
v  2 


42  LIFE  OF 

revived  and  comforted,  and  a  number  were  un- 
der convi&ion,  and  I  think  there  were  fome 
hopeful  new  converts.  After  Mr.  Bliell  had 
preached  in  Northampton  a  week  or  two,  he  fe-t 
out  on  a  tour  towards  Bofton,  to  preach  in  the 
towns  in  thofe  parts  ;  and  I  went  with  him. 
People  crowded  to  hear  him  in  every  place ; 
and  great  numbers  were  awakened,  and  many 
were  thought  to  be  converted.  After  continuing 
with  him  about  two  weeks,  I  returned  to  North- 
ampton, when  my  exercifes  of  mind  were  fuch 
that  I  fir  thefirft  time  admitted  a  hope  that  they 
were  really  gracious,  and  my  mind  immediately 
recurred  back  to  the  time  when  I  had  thofe  views 
and  affections,  almoft  a  year  before,  which  have 
been  mentioned,  and  they  appeared  to  me  to  be 
of  the  fame  kind  with  thofe  which  now  poflefled 
my  mind,  and  that  the  courfe  of  exercifes  which 
I  fince  had,  did  not  differ  in  kind  from  the  firft, 
and  from  thofe  which  I  now  had  :  though  I  had 
within  this  time  often  faid  I  was  certain  I  had  no 
grace  \  and  never  had  for  a  moment,  that  I  can 
recolledt,  entertained  the  leaft  degree  of  hope, 
cr  one  thought  that  I  was  not  in  a  ftate  of  na- 
ture. While  at  Northampton  before  this,  I  con- 
verfed  with  a  number  of  chriftians  who  were 
thought  to  be  knowing  and  eminent.  I  per- 
ceived that  they  thought  I  was  a  chriftian.  But 
this  did  net  have  the  leaft  perceivable  influence 


HOPKINS.  43 

on  my  mind,  fo  as  to  excite  the  leaft  hope  that  I 
was  n  :  but  thought  and  felt  that  I  kn 

this  was  not,  and  could  not,  be  true.* 

I  now  determined  to  make  known  the  whole 
of  my  exercifes  to  Mr.  Edwards,  as  far  as  I  could 
communicate  the  m.  I  told  him  my  prefent  ex- 
ercifes,  and  thofe  which  I  have  related  which 
took  place  at  college  near  a  year  before.  When 
he  had  heard  me,  he  alked  me,  Why  I  had  not 
told  him  thefe  things  before  ?  I  told  him  it  was 
becaufe  I  had  no  thought  that  fuch  exercifes  were 
converfion,  or  chriitian  exercifes,  till  very  lately. 
He  gave  not  his  opinion  exprefsiy  ;  nor  did  I 
defire  he  ihould  ;  for  I  was  far  from  rejging  on 
any  man's  judgment  in  fuch  a  cafe.  But  I  fup- 
pofed  he  entertained  a  hope  that  I  was  a  chris- 
tian. 

From    this  time   I  turned  my  thoughts  upon 
ng   the  gofpel.      And  with  a  view  to  ob- 
tain a  licenfe  to  preach,  I  left  Mr.  Edwards's  in 
the  latter   end  of  March,    2nd  went  home    to 

*    This.  toitbfundry  motes    iikich  fdLiv,   \v?re  tt 
ait  diary  of  I 
tained  a  hope,  that  I  did  experience  a  Caving  change  ab 
year  ago  ;  and,  I  find  my  felf  more,  and  more  .n  it. 

The  Lord  grant   that  I  may  not  be  d< 
thought*  (Gcd  willing)  of  being  examined,  I 
der    to   preach    the  fweet    and  everiafting    gofpel  or  J 
Though,  many  times,  my  heart  lhrinks  at   the   thought.     I 
hope  the  Lord  will  dire  A  mc. 


44  LIFE  OF 

Waterbury.  And  in  May  I  applied  to  an  AiTo- 
ciation  of  minifters  for  approbation  ;  which  they 
granted,  after  I  had  pafled  and  examination  be- 
fore them.* 


*  April  29.  This  day,  I  obtained  a  permit  to  go  forth  and 
preach  the  gofpel  :  but  this  is  only  from  men  It  hath  been 
my  requeft,  and  I  hope  my  fin  cere  defire,  that  I  might  have 
a  commifiion  from  the  Lord  Jefus  Chrift,  the  great  Lord  cf 
the  harveft,  and  be  fent  forth  by  him,  as  a  labourer  in  his 
vineyard. 

July  3.  I  have  this  day  rode  from  Hampton  to  Suffield, 
in  order  to  preach.  By  the  way  I  was  much  drawn  out  in 
ardent  defires  that  God  would  go  with  me,  and  that  I  might 
do  fomething  for  his  hcnor.  I  heard  two  fermons,  and  bejng 
deilred,  I  preached  a  third.  The  power  of  the  Lord  came 
down,  and  many  of  his  children  were  fiiled,  with  the.  Holy 
Ghofl  !  I  had  a  freedom  in  fpeaking  which  I  never  had  be- 
fore, iffculd  not  be  heard  all  over  the  meeting  houfe,  by 
reafon  of  the  out  cries  of  the  people.  Oh!  wonderful,  that 
the  Lord  mould  make  me  his  inftrument  to  feed  his  lambs. 

Being  defired,  I  preached  again,  this  night,  at  the  houfe 
where  I  lodged  ;  many  people  came  to  hear  the  word  ;  and, 
we  had  the  divine  prefence — many  chriftians  were  fweetly 
refreihed. 

Auguft  7.  Seeing  Chrift  requires  that  I  deny  myfelf,  take 
up  my  crofs  and  renounce  all  for  hinij  taking  him  for  my  only 
portion  here  and  for  ever  : 

.  I  do  now  afrefli  dedicate  myfelf  to  the  Lord,  fokmnly 
promifing  to  renounce  all  other  lords,  and  take  him  for  my 
portion*  I  call  heaven  and  earth  to  witnefs,  that  I  now  take 
the  God  of  heaven  and  earth  for  my  God.  I  now  make  my- 
felf over,  withal]  that  Ihave,  or  ever  mall  have  to  him.  I 
now  promife  allegiance  to  the  God  of  heaven,  that  henceforth 
I  will  make  it  my  only  bufirefs  to  ferve  and  honor  him  ;  beg- 
ging his  gracious  affiftaRce  to  perform  my  obligations,  and 
to  keep  my  folemn  vows  ir. violate.  It  is  done,  1  am  no  more 
own,  but  I  give  myfelf  away  to  God,  to  be  his  for- 
ever. S«  H* 


VEL  HOPKINS.  45 

After  I  had  preached  a  few  times  at  my  native 
place,  and  places  adjacent,  occasionally,  I 
turned  to  Northampton,  propofmg.  to  ipend 
fometime  in  purfuing  my  Itudies  with  Mr,  Ed- 
war,  c  I  lived  during  the  fummer,  prfeach- 
ing  fometimes  in  Mr.  Edwards's  pulpit,  and  to 
private  meetings  j  and  fometimes  rode  out  to 
neighbouring  towns,  and  preached  ;  for  which  I 
neither  demanded,  nor  received  any  pay,  except 
forty  (hillings  old  tenor,  for  preaching  one  Sab- 
bath at  Weit  field  :  which  was  given  without  any 
demand  or  expectation  from  me.  I  alio  preach* 
in  the  fall  a  number  of  fabbaths  at  Bethlem 
to  Mr.  Bellamy's  people,  gratis,  while  he  took 
a  tour  as  far  as  Philadelphia  in  order  to  preach  j 
as  people  in  general  then  had  a  hearing  ear. 

In  the  beginning  of  December  1742,  I  was 
invited  to  preach  at  Symfbury  in  Connecticut,  to 
nfiderable  congregation,  who  had  lately  left 
their  minifter  ;    where   I  continued    preaching 
moil  of  the  time  till  the  next  May.     The  greater 
part  of  the  people  appeared  attentive  and  in  r 
meafure   engaged  m  religion  9  but    *,"*x\v;'" 
fome  oppofers    ot  tflc  U~   revival  of  religion, 
and  of  the  do&rines  which  were  preached,  and 
re  much  infilled  upon  by  the  friends  of  the. 
•val.     Though  I  refufed   to  preach  as  a  can- 
didate, having  no  inclination  to  fettle  in  the  min- 


46  LIFE  OF 

iftry  at  prefent  ;  yet  the  town  infilled  upon  hav- 
ing a  meeting  to  fee  if  they  would  give  me  a 
call  to  fettle  in  the  work  of  the  miniilry  among 
them.  When  they  met,  it  appeared  that  one 
hundred  voted  to  give  me  a  call,  and  that  thirty 
voted  againft  it.  I  told  them,  that  I  had  no 
thought  of  fettling  in  the  miniftry  at  prefent  : 
But  if  I  had,  I  thought  their  want  of  unanimity, 
and  the  number  of  oppofers  was  a  fufficient  rea- 
fon  for  not  complying  with  their  requeft.  I 
therefore  left  them,  and  went  to  Northampton, 
with  a  view  to  purfue  my  ftudies  for  a  longer 
time  with  Mr.  Edwards.* 

*  M&7  4,  1743.  This  evening,  through  the  goodnefs  of 
God,  have  had  feme  refreshing  discoveries  cf  divine 
things  longing  that  the  whole  world  might  be  brought  to 
the  knowlege  of  God;  and,  that  the  children  of  God  might 
live  like  themfelves,  have  views  of  an  approaching  eternity, 
and  feel  the  love  of  God  in  their  fouls.  That  the  miniftera 
cf  Chrift  might  always  experience  how  fweet  it  is,  to  preach 
Chrift,  and  offer  him  to  fallen  undone  fmners.  Oh  !  how 
fweet  is  it  to  get  on  mount  Pifgah,  and  from  thence  behold 
the  pramifed  land  ! 

Auguft  25.  Had  forne  freedom  in  fecret  prayer,  this  night — 

Quite  willing  that  God  mould  flop  my  mouth  and  never 

;o  fpeak  in  his  name  to  this  people  again,  if  he  has 

«ot  «  -?  it  be   his   will  I  mould    not  ;  ~t  die  fame 

time  greatly    dcfirous   t:.-.v  by    fe^c;  means,  they  might  be 

brought  into  the  right  way. 

November  it.  Have  had  more  than  ordinary  longings  after 
hoiinefs  and  fandification  ;  at  the  fame  time  thirfting  after 
God,  longing  to  know  more  of  him,  and  be  more  acquainted 
with  him. 

26.  }Ud  a  little,  but*  fweet  glimpfe  cf  foxac  of  the  sttri- 


SAMUEL  HOPKINS.  47 

But  after  I  had  continued  there  a  few  weeks, 
I  found   myfclf  unwell,  grew    more  and   more 
feeble,   and  was  attended  with  rheumatic  pains; 
fo  as  to  be  unable  to  attend  to  my  iludy,  as  I  ex- 
pected :     And  haying,  at  that  time  feveral  invita- 
tions from    diftant  places,  to  go  and  preach  to 
them,  I  concluded  it  was  bed  to  ride  as  the  like- 
lieft  way  to  recover  my   health.      And  being  in- 
vited to  go  to  a  place  then   called    Houfatonod> 
which  was  about  fixty  miles  from  Northampton, 
I  engaged  to  go  there,  and  to  preach  to  them  two 
or  three  fabbaths.      Accordingly  I  arrived  ther^ 
the  beginning  of    July,    1743.     I  found    they 
were    a  fmall    people,  there    being    but    about 
thirty  families    in  the  town  ;  that  a   number  of 
them  were  poor,  and  generally  they  were  with- 
out any  concern  about  real  religion,  and  gives  to 
many  vices,  which  an  eafy  country   to  live   in, 
and  living  without  the  Ready   preaching    of  the 
gofpel,  or  public  worfhip,  naturally    produced. 
But  as  they  appeared   unanimous  in  inviting  me 
to  fettle  among  them,  after   I  had  been   there  a 
number  of  fabbaths,  I  confented,  and  was    or- 
dained on  the    28th  day   of  December,  juft   at 

butes  of  God,  in  fecret  prayer,  efpeclally  of  his  wlfdom,  jjf- 
tice  and  holinefs.     I  faw  that  he   knew  what   wa- 
could  do  nothing  but  what  is  perfe&ly  right  ar.d  juft,  and  in- 
finitely beft.     What  reafoa  have  I,  to  commit,   ftU   niy  con- 
cerns into  his  ha; 


48  LIFE  OF 

the  end  of  the  year  1743,  when  I  was  twenty- 
two  years,  three  months,  and  eleven  days  old.* 

I  continued  there  in  the  work  of  the  miniftry 
till  January  18,  1769,  twenty-five  years  and  a- 
bout  twenty  days,  when  I  was  difmiffed,  by  the 

unanimous  voice  of  a  council  called  on  that  oc- 

• 

*  December  24,  1743.  Have  fafted  in  fecret  to  day,  and 
had  fome  unufual  afliftance  and  enlargement.  My  courage 
5s  increafed  about  fettling  here  in  the  work  of  the  miniftry, 
being  willing  to  go  where  God  calls  me,  knowing  that, this 
life  is  not  L*e  place  for  happinefs,  I  muil  wait  for  that,  till 
I  launch  inro  eternity  and  leave  my  corruption  behind.  I 
hope  God  hath  given  me  ftreugth  to  defire  his  prefence  in  the 
great  work  of  the  miniftry. 

2,8.  I  have  this  day  folemnly  and  publicly  given  myfelf 
up  to  the  work  of  the  miniltry.  I  am  now  engaged  in  a 
great  work.     Oh,  that  I  might  be  faithful  unto  death. 

Auguft  a8,  1744.  This  evening  T  have  had  unufual  free- 
dom inpra}er — had  fome  fenie  of  the  miferabie  £ate  of  my 
people,  and  fome  wrefiling.-  foe  then — Was  enabled  to  give 
myfelf  up  afrefh  to  drift,  taking  him  with  his  crefs,  being 
heartily  willing  if  I  migu  '  ifence,  to  undergo  all 

poflible  hardfhips  and  trial? — was  ith  an  holy  fcorn 

to  trample  upon,  and  defpife  the  world,   with  all   ere; 
good. 

July  25,  1/49-  ^a(*  freedom  in  fccrC  prayer  this  evening, 
I  think  I  canfafely  appeal  to  God,  and  rclare  be- 

fore him,  that  Idefirehis  fmilea  <\n&  acceptance  in  his  fight 
above  all  things  ejfe/  that  I  had  rather  be  firipped  of  -very 
worldly  comfort  than  to  be  withx  hia  all 

thu  world  is  nothing.  I  am  alfo  confeious  h-fore  G  >d  that  I 
am  fmcere,  (though  alas  ftioxJ  nt)  in   the  great 

work  I  huvc  undertaken,  ^nd  have  never  declined 
I  ferioufly  thought  was  for  the  fpirituai  good   of  xny  people, 
for  any  worldly  intereft. 


49 

cafiottj  and  the  confent  of  the  church.     Duri 
dm  time  I  had  no  gr<  ruccefs  in  the 

m'miftry.  A  fmall  number  were  hopefully  con- 
verted, and  a  number  of  chriftians  moved  into 
the  place  ifliei  which  increafed  the  num- 

in  the  church.  But  the  congregation  in 
:ral  did  not  attend  public  worfhip,  except 
fome  times •,  and  were  not  willing  to  fupport  the 
gofpel.  And  a  number  turned  churchmen,  ap- 
parently and  fome  of  them  profeiledly,  to  get 
rid  of  paying  any  thing  for  the  fupport  of  the 
gofpel.  And  fo  great  a  number  of  others  refufed 
to  do  any  thing  this  way,  that  after  the  church, 
and  others  who  wifhed  to  have  me  ftav  anions 
them,  had  made  a  number  of  attempts,  the/ de- 
clared there  was,  in  their  view,  no  profpeel  or 
hope  of  my  having  a  fupport,  if  I  continued 
with  them  ;  and  therefor-:  they  could  not  obj 
to  my  leaving    th  an  ecclefnf- 

tical    council    fhould    adv  ;y    there 

joined  with  me  in   calling  a  council,  and  la] 
the  circumitances  of  the  cafe  before  them  :  who 
advifed  to  my  difmiilion,  as  mentioned  above. 

I  then  had  a  wife  and  eight  children,  2nd  own- 
ed a  houfe  and  good  farm  ;  and  could,  by  I 
ing  my  ftudy  and  attending  to  my  farm,  1 
fupported  myfelf  and  family,  and  continued  to 
preach  to  thofe  who  would  come  to  hear  me, 
after  a  fort,  with  little  ftudy.  But  I  then 
thought,  and  it  was  the  judgment  of  the  coun- 


LIFE  OF 

oil,  and  of  the  church,  that  as  I  could  not  be 
fupported  there,  fo  as  to  be  able  to  give  myfelf 
wholly  to  the  work  of  the  miniftry,  and  purfue 
my  ftudies  without  any  great   interruption  from 
worldly  cares  and  labour,  it  was  my  duty  to  leave 
m,  and  go  where  I  could  be  fupported.      And 
if  no  fuch  place  prefented  \  I  could  by  turning 
attention   to  farming   fupport    myfelf.     But 
:e  I  have  feen  the  unhappy  confequences  to 
;  people  of  my  leaving  them,  many  of  which 
!it  probably  have  been  prevented  by  my  ftay- 
with  them,  though  I  had  ftudied  but  little, 
and  fpent  great  part  of  my   time  in  attention  to 
my  worldly  concerns,  I  have    fometimes    been 
ready  to  call  in  queftion  the   reafonablenefs    of 
that  conclufion,  and    have  thought   it  probable 
we  were  all  wrong  in  judging  as  we   did,  and 
that  it  was  my  duty  to  flay  with   that  people  in 
thofe  circumftances.     It  is  certain    this    would 
s  been  greatly  to  my  worldly  advantage.     But 
I  then  thought  I   did  right,  and  took  the    moft 
prudent  and  proper  fleps,  in  taking  the    advice 
of  a  council,   &c.     And  the  iffue  rendered    it 
neceffary  for  me  to  leave  the  work  of  the  minif- 
try there.      God  has  ordered  it  fo,  and  his  ends 
will   be    anfwered  by   it.     This   will  be    feeiij 
another  day  \  and  it  will  be  known  who  were  the 
blameable  inftruments  of  bringing  it  about,  and 
m  what  degree  they  were  fo. 

In  lefs  than  a  year  after  I  was  ordained  at  Shef- 


SAMUEL  IIOPK 

field  (as  a  cillcd  •,  but  has  Gnce  obtain- 

ed the  nsu 

ag  about 

forrv-thr  Id.     She  died  in  chiW-b 

!  foon  after.     My  father  tent  for  r 
when  it  was  fuppofed  my  mother  was  like  to  die. 
But  as  I  lived  at  the  diftanceof  fifty  miles,  and 
it  was  diificult  travelling  at  that  time  of  t1 
I  did  not  get  there  before  my  mother  died.     This 
a  grievous   lofs   to  me,  which  touched  my 
tender  feelings  to  the  quick,  as  (he  was  a  ki 
tender  mother,  and  I  loved  her   above  any  otl 

On  January  13,    1748,  I  was  married  tr 
Joanna  Ingerfol,  daughter  of  Mofes  Ingerfol  of 
Great- Barrington.      And  on  February  5, 

rutty  4,  1749.  Reached  my  father's  honfe  late  in  the 
r,  find  my  father  very  Tick,  and    two   brothers  and  two 
fitter*  with  the  meafeb.      My  father  knew  me  and 

M  fa  long  in  coming?  told  me  he  lent  for   me  that 
ght  fee  him  once  more  before  he  di 
r.ot  think  !  I  toli  him  do:    T  afked    him  if  he 

g  to  die,  hit  anfwef   was  fiicl 

:   him.      I  was  quickly  willing  to  part  with  him   if 
he  might  bnt   gire  me   evidence  of  hi  re  in 

Chrift,  before  he  died,  but  was  fcon  brought   to  ^ivc  up 
point,  if  he  might  but  have  a  faving  intereft  in   C 
the  comfort  of  it  in  his  own  foul,  which  my  foul 
1  to  feck  God  earned!; 
ny  mouth  filled  with  arguments,  and  af:er  all  w 

and  acfcnov  I 
ng  a  right  to  do  what  he  would,  and  that  he  c 

-rye.  We  apprehend  my   f« 


52  LIFE  OF 

my  father  died  at  Waterbury,  being  abotit  fifty- 
eight  years  old.  He  made  me  executor  of  his  will. 
He  left  three  young  fons,  my  brothers  James, 
Daniel,  and  Mark.  James  was  in  his  fixteenth 
year,  Daniel  in  his  fourteenth,  and  Mark  in  his 
tenth.  The  two  oldeft  my  father  furnifhed  with 
a  farm,  and  utenfils  to  cultivate  it,  propbfmg  that 
they  fhould  be  farmers-  The  youngeit  he  com- 
mitted to  my  care,  defiring  me  to  give  him  a  pub- 
lic education,  for  which  he  left  a  fufficient  eftate. 
The  two  oldeft  foon  got  difcouraged  with  farm- 
ing, living  fifty  miles  from  me.  Upon  which, 
on  their  defire,  I  fold  the  farm,  and  took  them 
into  my  own  houfe,  and  fitted  them  all  to  enter 
the  college  at  New-Haven.  James,  the  oldeft 
msde  fuch  proficiency  in  his  ftudies,  that  he  en- 
d  the  college  before  the  other  two.  He  was 
a  promifmg  young  man,  much  efteemed  in  col- 
lege ;  efnecially  by  his  clafs-mates.  But  was 
taken  tick  with  a  fever  before  his  firft  year  at  col- 
lege was  ended,  which  put  an  end  to  his  life.  I 
was  fent  for,  when  his  ficknefs  was  thought  to 
be  mortal ;  but  my  houfe  being  eighty  miles  from 
New-Haven,  when  I  got  there,  he  was  juft  ex- 
piring, and  died  in  an  hour  or  two  :  This  was  a 
trying  fcene  to  me  ! 

two  prayers  with  him,  ha  having   been  fometime    before 
fpet  chiefs,  revived  a  lit  lie,  2nd  faid,  be   lad  mors    left 

rring  to  the  difcourfe  I  had  with  him  before.  Thefe  were 
;  Imoft  the  laft  words  which,  he  fpake,  and  the  mofl  comforta- 
ble. I  Lad  fome  views  of  the  infinity  of  God's  mercy,  ar.cf 
cxprefTed  it  in  prayer,  and  hope  his  foul  felt  it. 


re 


53 

other   two   brothers  entered  college  after 
,   and  were  graduated.      Ill  cart 

of  their  A,0^  providing  for   tfa 

trouble  of  which  was  not  fmall. 

My  youngeft  brother,  Mark,  ftudied  the  law, 
and  followed  that  bufinefs.     Waa  married,  :md 
had  a  number  of  children.     lie  profpered  in  the 
world,  and  fuilained  a  good  and  fair  ch 
But  died  with  ficknefs  when  engaged  in  the  v 
with  Britain,  about  the  time  the  American  ai 
evacuated  New-York,  being  driven  out   by  the 
Britifli,  I  think  in  the  year    1776.     My  brotl 
Daniel  is  yet  living,  being  fettled  in  the  miniftry 
at  Salem. 

It  was  difagreeable  to  me  to  go  fo  far  from  Mr. 
Edwards,  as  I  did  when  I  fettled  at  Great-Bar- 

rington,  being  at  leail  fixty  miles,  with  whom  I 
had  itudied  1"  :id  who  was  able   to  affilt 

me  farther  to  .ivancement  in  knowkv 

could  I  live  in  his  neighbourhood,  fo  as  to  be 
able  to  vifit  him  often,  and  converfe  with  him,  &c. 
But  I  was  relieved  and  gratified  with  refp 
is,  in  a  few  years  after  my  fettlement,  by  his 
bioving  from  Northampton,  and  fettling  at 
Stockbridge,  within  feven  miles  of  my  houfe. 
Mr.  Sergeant,  who  was  miflionary  to  the  Indians 
at  Stockbridge,  when  I  fettled  at  Great-Barring- 
ton,  died  on  the  27th  July,  1749.  The  next 
year  the  commiiBoners  in  Bofton,  who  had  the 

E    2 


54 


LIFE  OF 


.  care  of  the  Indian  miffion  at  Stockbridge,  fent 
to  me  their  propofaJ  and  defire  that  I  would  ac- 
cept of  that  million,  in  which  invitation  both 
the  white  people,  and  the  Indians  at  Stock- 
bridge  earneftly  joined.  And  the  Indians  fent  a 
particular  meflenger  to  me,  to  intreat  me  to  come 
and  be  their  minifter.  My  anfwer  was,  that  I 
would  take  the  matter  into  ferious  confideration. 
But  as  I  did  not  think  myfelf  equal  to  fuch  a 
fituation  and  bufinefo,  I  fhould  hefitate  with  re- 
H^ard  to  accepting  the  offer,  though  I  (hould  not 
*  know  of  any  other  man  better  qualified  to  take 
the  place.  But  as  I  had  one  in  view  who  was 
much  better  qualified,  every  way,  for  fuch  a 
miffion,  if  he  could  be  obtained,  as  I  hoped  he 
could,  if  I  otherwife  were  inclined  to  accept,  I 
fhould  refufe,  in  order  to  introduce  him.  Mr. 
Edwards  was  the  man  whom  I  had  in  view.  He 
had  been  difmiffed  from  the  church  in  Northamp- 
ton in  the  year  1750.  I  therefore  wrote  to  the 
commiflioners  in  Bofton  recommending  him  in 
the  ftrongeft  terms,  as  the  moft  proper  perfon 
for  that  miffion,  and  mentioned  him  to  the  white 
people,  and  to  the  Indians,  as  the  moft  fuitable 
man  for  their  minifter.  Accordingly  he  wagpl 
introduced  and  fettled  there  in  Auguft  1 75 1,  n£wP 
quite  eight  years  after  I  was  fettled  at  Great- 
Barrington.*     He    continued  at  Stockbridge  a 

*  Monday  May  9,  1 753.  Vifited  H,  D.  to  day,  who  is 
very  fick,  and  is  not  like  to  continue  long  ;  her  lifter,  E. 
^ame  owt  of  the   door   after  me,   appearing  tenderly  wi~ 


SAMUEL  IIOPK  55 

little  more  than  1  -nc  I  en- 

.t  by  his  company 

But    lie    was    invited  to  the 

:    the   college   in   Princeton,  and  in 

ecrr.ed    il  *   defired  me   to  pray   for  her,  which  I 

emit..  to  my  clofct  at   home,  and 

God  lor  mercy  lor  her  foul  with  free- 
dom an  J  importunity.  I  ca:  no-  hut  h«ijc  that  God  enabled 
me  to  a(k  c  .    ace  lor  her  :   and  I  humbh 

-  time  and  wsy,  give  it.     Oh  !   what  a  fweet  duty 
faith  will  the  whole  heart. 
Ev«ry  fervent    intcrcefior   has   his    reward  paid  down,    and 
his  prayer  immediately  returns  into  his  own  bofom. 

8.  This  day  H.  D.  died,  fhe  was  a  defirable  youtl 
and  hopefully  convened  a  few   weeks  before   fhe  was  taken 
fick  :   and  God  wai  It  me  a  mean  of  awakening 

her,  which  I  efteem  a^:  than   it  hi  had  gi 

the  whole  world.     This  is  the  fir/l  that  I  have  evidence  cf  the 
.  m  of,  fir.ee  I  have    been  in  the  place  ;  and   furcly  it 
is  well    worth  while  to  preach   feven  years,  (which    i*   the 
time  I  have  been  here)  to   be  any  ways  inftrumental  of  the 
fion  of  one  foul. 
Wednefday,  December  26.  I  have  lately  had  diftrefilng  ap- 
.;   the   badnefs  of  my  ftate,  being  ready   to  con- 
clude that  fuch  a  fmner  as    I    am,    cannot   pcfiibiy  have  any 
grace.     Thil  i-beured  under  an  unfup- 

lc  load  of  fin  ;  and,  my   fpir  :unk  up  with 

anguifh  !    As  fooa  ai  I  could,  I   faut  myfelf  up  in  my  ftudy, 
upon  my  knees  before  God. 

firft,  I  felt,  and  tcld  God,  that   I  had   no  where  elfe 
go  bu*  to  him,  though  I  had  finned  fo  gr  ft  him. 

It  and  exprcfTci,  the  extreme  folly  of  forfaking  hirr. — :hat 
was  beyond  all  concept!  n.     I  reflected  on  the 

ins  and  faw  they  were  fo  vafUy  multiplied  and 
numerous,  that  it  was  impofiible  my  mind  fhc; 
a  full  view  of  them,  or  be  able  to  reckon  them.  Yea,  that 
there  was  not  one  aggravation,  but  what  exceeded  all  my 
thought?  and  conceptions.  I  thought  it  a  wonder  th 
rot  in  hell,  and  confeffed  that  God  might  juftly  fend  me  there 
immediately;  yea  he  might  juftly  do  what  was  i.nfpeakably 


id      ^^ 

m 


56  LIFE  OF 

the  beginning  of  January  1758.  He  was  dii~ 
miffed  from  Stockbridge  by  the  advice  of  a  coun- 
cil. This  was  a  fore  trial  to  me,  to  have  him 
thus  taken  from  my  neighbourhood,  by  which  I 

more  dreadful,  viz.  continue  me  in  ths  world  till  I  had  filled 
up  the  dreadful  msafure  of  my  iniquities,  and  become  a 
great  and  remarkable  veflel  of  wrath,  fitted  for  that  deftruc- 
tion,  for  which  I  was  before  appointed  ;  that  I  might  fink 
down  unfpeakably  below  Judas,  and  bear  a  more  awful 
weight  of  wrath,  than  any  other  who  fhould  go  to  hell. 

Under   thefe    (hocking    apprehenfions   of  the   weight   of 
wrath  which    belonged  to  me,  it   came  int©  my  mind,  that 
Chrift  could  fave  from  all  this ;  he  could  deliver  from  fuch  a 
•  weighty  wrath  ! 

Immediately  upon  which  my  foul  applied  to  him  for  help  ; 
and,  this  was  the  language  of  my  heart,  Lord  Jefus,  Pceme, 
I  come,  I  come  to  thee,  1  come  for  deliverance  from  this  dif- 
tinguifhed  place  in  hell,  this  uncommon  weight  of  wrach. 
I  thought  I  might  hope  in  him  for  deliverance,  though 
others  went  to  hell,  whofe  fins  were  unfpeakably  lefs  than 
mine,  tind  the  truth  contained  in  thofe  words,  "  Iwill&ave 
mercy  on  ivhom  I  will  Lavs  mercy,"  feemed  fweet  and  wonder- 
ful. I  felt  confounded,  and  my  foul  was  filled  with  bluihing 
and  Hiame,  faying  from  my  heart,  "  Righteoufnefs  belong- 
eth  unto  thee,  O  Lord,  but  unto  me  ihame  and  confufion  of 
face  becaufe  I  have  finned  "  In  the  conclufion  of  my  peti- 
tions when  I  mentioned  Chrift  as  the  perfon,  in  whofe  name 
I  prefented  myfelf  and  offering,  I  felt  that  he  was  the  only 
Saviour,  and  ground  of  hope  for  finners.  Had  it  not  been 
for  him,  the  leaft  fin  mud  have  damned  infallibly  :  and  it 
feemed  wonderful,  even  that  the  leaft  (inner,  and  efpecial 
fuch  a  (inner  as  I  was,  might  have  hope.  When  I  came 
conclude  my  devotions  with  afcriptions  of  praife  to  God, 
heart  dwelt  upon  this,  and  I  longed  that  the  angels  mi; 
praife  God.  I  faw  that  God  could  glorify  himfelf  by  faving 
me,  but  the  tribute  of  praife  which  I  could  offer  was  mean, 
and  inconfiderable — I  wanted  to  lifp  out  his  praife  in  fome 
humble  place.  I  rofe  from  my  knees  lightened  and  comfort- 
ed :  all  nature  put  on  a  rcore  pleafant  afpedfc,  and  thofe  words 
"  I  will  have  mercy  on  whom  I  will  have  mercy"  dwelt  on  my 
heart  with  pleafure  and  delight. 


d  it 


HOPKINS. 

fhould  lofe    the  future    benefit  of  His  comp 
and  inftru&ioaa*     But  I  considered  him  as  fo 

eminently  qualified   for  the  prefidency  of  a  col- 
,   that  the  profpeel  of  the  good  he  would  do 
in  that  Qation,  (o  much  over  balanced  the  bene- 
fit of  his  flaying  at  Stockbridge  and  my  perfonal 
advantage,  that  I  thought  it  my  duty  to  give  my 
voice  for  his  removal  to  Princeton.     But   the  a- 
greeable  profpecT:  cf  his  ufefulnefs,  as   prefident 
of  the    college,  was  foon    ended  :     For  he  had 
been  but  a  few  weeks  in  that  ftation  before  he 
I,  by    the    advice  of  the  truftees,  inoculated 
with  tke  fmall  pox,  which  put  an  end  to  his  life 
he  month  of  March  1758. 

Upon  the  death  of  Mr.  Edwards,  Mrs.  Ed- 
Js,  in  confequence  of  verbal  directions  giv en 
to  her  by  Mr.  Edwards  in  his  life  time,  put  all 
his  manufcripts  and  his  library  into  my  hands, 
and  care  :  His  manufcripts  to  be  difpofed  of  by 
me,  and  two    oth  Icrs.      And    Mrs.  Ed- 

\!s  folicited  me  to  write  the  life  of  Mr.  Ed- 
to  be  publifhed,  with  a  number  of  fer- 
:cled  from  his  manufcripts.  I 
xed  myfelf  very  unequal  to  writing  his 
ut  as  by  having  the  pofiefTion  of  his  manu- 
fcripts, I  was  under  better  advantage  to  do  it, 
than  others,  I  engaged  to  do  the  bed  I  could  -9 
and  if  it  fhould  be  approved  of  by  a  number  of 
friendjA  judicious  minifters,  I  would  conient  to 
:  lifhcd,  on    condition  that  my  name 


bi 


58  LIFE  OF 

flioirid  not  be  put  to  it.  Accordingly  it  was  pub- 
lifhed  with  a  number  of  pofthumous  fermons, 
the  moft  of  which  I  tranfcribed  myfelf  from  his 
manufcripts. 

As  thefe  manufcripts  were  in  my  hands  a 
number  of  years,  I  paid  my  chief  attention  to< 
them,  until  I  had  read  them  all,  which  confided 
of  a  great  number  of  volumes,  fome  of  them 
large,  be  fides  fermons,  of  which  fermons  I  did 
not  read  the  whole.  In  doing  this  I  had  much 
pleafure  and  profit.  My  mind  became  more 
engaged  in  ftudy,  rifing,  great  part  of  my  time, 
at  four  o'clock  in  the  morning  to  purfue  my 
ftudy,  in  which  I  took  great  pleafure. 

In  the  twenty  five  years  which  I  fpent  at 
Great  Harrington,,  I  had  but  little  apparent 
fracefs  in  the  converfion  of  finners,  though  a 
number  were  hopefully  converted,  and  the 
church  was  confiderably  increafed  in  numbers. 
And  the  town  made  advances  and  profpered  in 
a  good  degree  in  their  worldly  circumftances. 
And  it  appears  from  what  has  taken  place  at 
time  of  my  leaving  them,  and  fince,  that 
labours  among  them  were  a  means  of  prevfki 
many  vices  and  evils,  which  have  fince  that 
time  been  apparently  increafing  among  them. 
They  have  had  no  minifter  fettled  among  them, 
except  for  a  ihort  time,  fince  I  left  them.  The 
church   has     dwindled,    and    come   to    idmoft 


ces. 


HOPKINS.  59 

nothing,  or  worfe.  They  have  not  profpered 
in  their  worldly  concerns,  but  the  contrary. 
And  arc  far  from  being  r  le   as  a  people 

or  town  in  the  fight  of  thofe  who  are  acquainted 
with  them,  and  their  circumftances. 

While  I  lived  at  Great  Barrington  many  things 
took  place  in  the  exercifes  of  my  own  mind, 
and  in  refpett  to  other  perfons  and  objects, 
which  cannot  now  be  narrated  :  but  muft  be  left 
to  that  dav,  when  every  work  will  be  brought 
into  judgment,  with  every  fecret  thing.  I  went 
through  many  trials  and  discouragements,  both 
from  within  myielf,   and   from    things  without. 

p  mind   w  Umk  in  darknels   and  def- 

pondency,  difcouraged  with  myfelf ;  difpleafed 
with  my  own  character  and  performances  *,  and 
burdened  with  a  fenfe  of  my  awful  depravity  and 
great  deficiencies  ;  and  often  doubted  whether 
I  were  a  real  christian.  Yet  I  was  Supported  by 
views  of  divine  truths  *,  and  at  times  raifed  above 
all  doubts,  and  to  high  religious  enjoyments  in 
the  exercife  of  thofe  affe&ions  which  appeared 
to  be  truly  gracious,  and  excluded  all  doubts  and 
fears  refpe&ing  my  ftate.  And  I  had  often  great 
^■joyment  in  contemplating  divine  truth,  and  in 
B  exercifes  of  hear;:  which  attended  and  were 

plied  in  thefe  truths,  independent  of  any  de- 
termination, hope  or  thought  that  I  was  a  chrif- 
the  exercifes  and  experiences  of  my 
art,  were  the  ground  of  my  preaching,  in 


6o  LIFE  OF 

general,  and  led  to  thofe  paflages  of  fcripture 
and  fubjefts  which  I  chofe  for  my  public  dif- 
courfes. 

A  number  of  chriftians,  though  not  large, 
who  were  members  of  the  church,  were  a  com- 
fort to  me,  and  appeared  to  be  pleafed  and  edified 
under  my  miniftry.  I  had,  from  time  to  time, 
fome  oppofers  of  the  doctrines  which  I  preached. 
But  being  perfuaded,  and  knowing  that  they  were 
the  truths  contained  in  divine  revelation,  this  op- 
pofition,  from  whatever  quarter,  did  not  in  the 
lead  deter  or  difcourage  me  from  adhering  to 
them  and  vindicating  them  publicly  and  in  pri- 
vate. And  this  was  the  occafion  of  my  under- 
{landing  them  better,  of  enlarging  my  views  of 
the  extent  and  confiftency  of  the  truths  of  chrif- 
tianity  ;  and  more  and  more  confirming  and  ef- 
tablifliing  me  in  the  knowledge  and  belief  of 
them. 

When  I  was  difmifled  from  Great-Barrington, 
I  thought  it  not  probable  that  I  fhould  refettle  in 
the  work  of  the  miniftry,  fince  I  could  not  think 
df  fettling  any  where,  unlefs  with  a  church, 
which  were  friendly  to  the  doctrines  and  disci- 
pline which  I  believed  and  preached,  and  ajB^ 
peared,  at  lead  a  good  number  of  them,  to  be 
real  chriftians.  And  it  was  not  probable  that 
fuch  a  church  could  be  found,  feeing  religion 
appeared  generally  to  be  funk  to  fo  low  an  ebb, 


6i 

and  the  do&ri  !i  I   incul- 

cated, were  lb  much  oppofed  and  rej 

I  was  then  engaged  in  writing  a  reply  to   Mr. 
Mills  entitled,  the 

unrc  of  all  mifrepreferttation   and 

d*fguife-  *n  attending  to  and  finifliing  this  I 
fpent  feme  months  at  home,  and  moit  of  the 
time  rode  on  Saturday  to  North  Canaan,  about 
twelve  miles  from  my  houfe,  and  preached  to 
that  people,  they  having  no  minifter,  and  re- 
turned home  on  Monday.  When  that  work  was 
finilhed,  and  put  to  prefs  i  -Haven,  I  fet 

out  on  a  journey  to  Bofton,  deGring  to  vifit  my 

itian  friends  there,  of  whom  I  had  a  c 
iiderable  number,  with  whom  I  had  a  particular 
acquaintance,  and  who  had  mown  great  and 
fpecial  kindnefs  to  me  for  a  number  of  jre 
Doctor  Lowell  being  then  aged  and  fick,  unable 
to  attend  the  work  of  the  miniitry,  a  number  of 
the  church  and  congregation  of  the  old  foutk> 
were  defirous  to  have  me  introduced  there.  But 
fome  of  the  leading  men  in  the  church  being  op- 
pofed to  it,  exerted  themfelves  in  oppofition  to 
it,  and  took  meafures  effeQuaily  to  preven:  it. 

"While  I  was  in  Bolton,  there   came   a  man 
from  Topfham,  a  town  one   hundred  and  fifty 
miles  eaft  of  Bolton,  on  Kennebec  river  ;  be 
fent  to  get  a  minifter  to  come  and  preach  to  tha 
people.     Having  been  defirous  for  fometime  to 


62  LIFE  OF 

get  acquainted  with  that  eaftern  country,  of 
which  I  had  heard  much,  I  confented  to  go,  and 
arrived  there  the  beginning  of  June.  I  found 
the  fettlement  new  ;  the  people  ignorant  and 
generally  ftupid  in  matters  of  religion  ;  and  no 
church  or  profeflbrs  of  religion  in  the  town. 
The  people,  however,  came  pretty  generally  to 
hear  me  :  and  many  came  from  the  adjacent 
tbwns,  there  being  but  few  minifters  in  thefe 
parts.  They  profeffed  highly  to  approve  of  my 
preaching,  and  none  appeared  to  oppofe.  When 
I  had  fpent  a  few  fabbaths  there,  the  committee 
came  to  me,  and  faid,  the  people  appeared  u- 
nnnimous  in  defiring  me  to  flay  with  them.;  they 
therefore  defiredthatl  would  confent  to  have  the 
people  collected  in  town  meeting  to  fee  if  they 
would  invite  me  to  fettle  among  them,  in  which, 
without  doubt,  they  would  be  unanimous.  *I 
told  them  that -they  were  but  a  young  fettlement, 
and  their  lands  in  general  were  uncultivated  : 
that  as  I  had  a  wife  and  a  number  of  children, 
and  w as  fo  far  advanced  in  life,  I  did  not  believe 
it  my  duty  to  move  my  family  fo  far,  and  fettle 
among  them,  in  my  time  of  life,  and  in  their 
prefent  circumftances  ;  therefore  would  not  have 
them  think  of  calling  a  meeting  of  the  people,  in 
order  to  invite  me  to  fettle  with  them  :  that  I 
hoped  they  would  find  a  young  many  who  might 
be  willing  to  fettle  with  them. * 

*  Monday  June  ix,  1769    Spent  Saturday  in  fading  and 
prayer,  had  a  variety  of  exercifes,  more  ftrcng  than  com- 


SAMUEL  H 

I  then  concluded   in  my  own   mind,  t!i 
would  be  my    duty   to    live    with  my   famiiy  at 
Great-Barrington,  and  cultivate  my  farm    fur  x 

mon,  was  in  tears  great  part  of  the  day  ;  fe  thl  V'cd 

to  ftW  myfefTup.  no:  lit  to  be  fern.      If  ever  I    knew  \ 
.>,  to  call  my fe if  upon  Chrift,  I  did  fo DOW.     Sovc. 

-11  my  plea.  .  hopt\     1  hid  unfpeakabie 

ire  in  thinking   t:.  nda- 

greatejl  exercife  and   difpby  race  ; 

e,  diftinguilhed 

this  afforded  opportunity  for    the  exercife    of  divine   power, 

n,  and  goodnefs,  in  ail  then-    infinite  height  ar-d 
tude.     ThatiajM,  there  was  a  />.•  far  the  trial    of 

divine  grace,  on  which  it  may  have  full  fee 

rrecx  the  greateft   monument,  to  the  praifeof  the  glory 
of  God's  grace  to  ail  eternity  !     My  foul   feemed  to  rejoice 
and  exult  in  this,  more,  unfpeakably    more  thun  in  my  own 
eonfidercd  as  ff parate  from    this.     Yea,  the  latter, 
■i  no  acount    ind  not  worth  afking  for,  in 
paxiforj  with  the  former,  or  altdefron]  that. 
'/ exercTes  were  uncommon,  and  remarkable  in  on:  I 
viz.  in  the  quick  fuccefii«n  of  li^ht  and  joy,  and*'. 
tion  and  gloom.     I*  was   fometimes  lifted  up,  and  then    . 
cafi  down,  and  my  exercife:.  as  it  were  obliterated. 

The  chief  things  I  propofed  to  feck  God  for  I 
firft,  his  direction  and  fniiles,  with  regard  to  my  futir 
cumftances,   and  ■fcfufoefi   in  the  world,  w  ith    rJ'pcdfc   to 
which,  I  have  had  a  variety  of  exercT:s;  which  would  fill  a 
recorded, 
ndly,  For  my  chriftian  friends. 

the  church  of  Chrift,  A 
This  ;  ith  the  words  of  Chrift  in  my  mini 

"  he  th^t  hath  nj  mdments,  ai  n,  he 

it  is  thatlovcth  me  ;  and  h_»  that  loveth  me  mall   he  loved  of 

.  and  I  will  love  him,  a: 
him."     I  feemed  to  long  to  keep   Chrift 'i    i 
and  thought  the  great  one   was   to  love 
•  p,  to  read  the  14th,   1 
f  John.     And  oh,  how  full 

',    inexprc: 


6j\  life  of 

living,  rather  than  to  fettle  at  Topsham,  or  any- 
place like  that  ;  and  felt  reconciled  to  fuch  a 
plan,  unlefs  I  fliould  have  fome  better  profpeft 
of  fettling  in  the  miniftry. 

Saturday  morning  July  I.  Purpnfe  to  fpend  this  day  in 
fading  and  prayer.  The  day  is  to  be  fpent  in  the  following 
manner. 

i.  In  attending  to  my  fins,  and  confefliag  them  before 
Sod. 

1.  In  praying  for  pardon  and  holinefs. 

3.  That  God  would  make  the  path  of  duty  plain  before 
me,  form  me  for  hisfervice,  and  improve  me  in  it. 

4.  In  fceking  mercies  for  my  wife  and  children. 

5.  Praying  for  direction  and  affi  fiance  while  with  this 
people,  that  fome  good  maybe  done  here.  » 

6.  For  my  chriftian  friends,  and  kind  benefactor?. 

7.  For  the  church  of  Chrift  in  general  and  for  the  worli  of 
mankind.     Ciofe  the  day  with  thank fgiving. 

When  I  firft  rofe  this  morning,  read  the  feventy  firft  Pfalrr., 
with  fome  exercifes  of  heart  and  pleafure.  Mary  pansge*, 
in  it  feemed  applicable  to  my  circumftances  ;  and  I  thought 
I  could  make  them  the  language  of  my  own  heart.  The 
^cations  on  enemies,  verfe,  13,  24,  I  could  apply  toin- 
vilible  enemies,  the  devils,  and  wicked  men,  confidered  at 
enemies  to  me,  becaufe  enemies  to  Chrift,  and  fo  far  as 
are  fuch,  they  may  be  cenfumed  and  deftroyed.  This  is- 
confident  with  their  being  converted  andfaved. 

"  Their  feet  arefwift  to  Ihed  blood,  but  how  to  de  good 
ih  ?y  know  not."  This  is  the  very  character  that  I  have  been 
ef,all  my  days.  A!!  fin  of  omiffion  or  commifiion  is  {bedding 
blood,  it  is  mifchief,  it  is  murder.  In  all  my  connections,  I 
have  been  conftantlf  guilty  of  omitting  fomething  which  I 
:ve  dons  ijt  their  good,  or  doing  fomething  which 
ftende  hurt.     I  have  miffed  ten  thoufand  opporruni- 

to  do  good,  and  have  not  feen  them  till  they  were  pair, 
through  the  ftupidity  and  wickednefs  of  my  heart.  If  I  have 
everdefired  to  do  any  good,  it  has  been  the  effect  of  fover- 
cign  grace. 

I  have  been  longing  to  get  rid  of  Gn — the  thought  of  living 
as  I  have,  is  dreadful.  .  In  this  feufe  I  groan  being  burden 


,    ill   the  I 
g  of  July, 
mittce    of    the    {"nit    c  I 

rningjulyj.    1   I  .Tweet  hcur  be- 

,  :en.     Surely  if  tJ  enjoyments    &n 

earth  "  m>'  ^et,  to   have  them  to  all  cteri.it/ 

without  God,     I  would  not   give    this   hour'  Qt  for 

i  would  defpife  them.     "  It  is   good  for  me, 

to  daw   near  to    God."     How    fwift,  and  how  fweec' 

-    pal's   the   mind,  when  i:  ll   in  ai 
frame  !     Ir  i-.  impoflible  to  exprefa  ah  the  the 

:d  my  mind  in   thii  hour  on  my  knees  ! 
Qod  !     "  There    i%   none  on  earth   that   1  defire  bcUes  tine'* 
were  words  to  which  my  foul  did   echo,  and   which  I  could 
cfpoufe  with  all  my   1 

or  without  thee,  and  not  in  union  with    thee.      I 
eluded  with  a  iolenin,  and  I   hope  beurty  dedicatii 

to  God,  believing  that  he  could,  and  in  a  degree  of  con- 
ce  that  he  wou  d,  do  more  than  I  am    able 
.  .ve. 

rnir.g  July  6.  Rofe  early  this  mori 
.    fhing  that  I  may  fay  it  !  have  had  a  giacioy.s, 

en  I  fir  ft   attempted   to   bow  be- 
fore G 

feeing,  infinitely  wife,  good,  and  every  *  ay  mod  ex: 

: ful in  cou .  . 
I   adored   and   \  rejoiced   in 

vas  drawn  o 
I  praife,  in  a  view  of  v  .   and 

his  works.     My  i  '.,   let 

would  with  me.     I  faid  I  will  praife  thee  as 
.s  I  live,  and  blefs  thy  name  while  I  have  a   being.     O, 
how  did  my  heart  rejoice  and  exul:  that  there  \%fucb  a    G 

:er  i:.  nor  c  :h   part    of 

It  appeared  fo~v. ; 
inzxy  firabje,  to  he:!:-:  inftrumen?  i 

one  foul  to  theknowlev'ge  of  this  glorious   G 
:-om  darknefs  to  this  marvellous  light, 
rig,  I  have  been  led  to  view. 
confidcred  in  hi?  abfolute,  divine  perfection,  him 

id  through  C'r.rift,  more  than  ii  common  fcr  e:c.     I  gene- 
F    2 


66  LIFE  OF 

Newport,  with  an  invitation  to  come  and  preach 
to  them,  with  a  view  to  fettle  with  them,  if  they 
and  I  could  agree. 

rally,  when  I  have  the  greateft  freedom  at  the  throne  of 
grace,  fpeak  dire<5Uy  to  Chrift,  as  if  he  was  in  a  fenfe,  the 
only  object  of  worfhip,  being  God,  and  haying  all  power  in 
heaven  and  earth  ;  but  now  it  wasocfrerwife. 

I  have  fometimes  been  troubled  about  this  matter,  and 
feared  I  had  no  right  idea?  of  the  father,  and  the  fon,  of 
God  and  Cfirift,  as  I  feemed  not  to  know  how  to  conceive  of 
them,  and  addrefs  them  in  my  devotions.  And  have  been 
hence  led  to  afk  that  I  might  know  the  only  true  God,  and 
Jefus  Chrift  whom  he  hath  fent  ;  might  have  ideas,  and  con- 
ceptions of  the  glorious  God  and  Saviour,  agreeab'e,  and  an- 
fwerable  to  the  revelation  he  has  made  of  himfelf.  I  have 
been  more  fatisfied  about  it,  this  morning.  I  now  Relieve 
that  chriftians  may  have  different  views  with  refpect  to  this, 
and  yet  all  be  right.  Sometimes  their  minds  may  be  fixed 
on  Chrift",  in  whom  dwells  all  the  fullnefs  of  the  Godhead; 
and,  he  may  be  more  immediately  the  object  of  their  adora- 
tion and  wormip,  addreffing  him  more  directly,  in  which 
he  is  confidcred  3s  fet  up  by  the  father,  and  invefted  with  all 
authority,  and  fo  comprehending  all  that  is  called  God.  At 
other  times,  they  may  have  their  minds  more  efpecialiy  fixed 
en  the  divine  perfections,  more  absolutely  confidered,  yet 
not  exclusively  of  Chrift  the  mediator,  and  fo  more  directly 
addrefs  God  over  a  1  blefTed  forever  as  exercifmg  mercy 
through  a  mediator.  And  I  believe  different  chriftians  may, 
in  a  ftated  way,  differ  in  this  refpect  in  their  view  and  ad- 
dreiTes  ;  and  fo  be  naturally  led  to  talk  of  their  exercifes  in  a 
little  different  language  ;  fomefpeaking  more  of  God,  others 
more  of  Chrift.  Our  ideas  are  very  fcant  at  beft,  and  we 
fee  but  by  parts  and  in  a  very  partial  manner.  Hence  when 
we  view  God  in  one  attitude,  if  I  may  fo  exprefs  it,  his  other 
relations  and  attitudes  are  more  out  of  fight,  and  lefs  attend- 
ed to.  Yet  when  all  our  ideas  and  views,  are  compared 
together,  they  are  perfectly  uniform  and  confiftent,  however 
various  and  different  they  may  he. 

3  o'clock.  Have  had  a  fweet  time  in  a  walk  in  the  woods. 
Had  more  hope  and  confidence  before  God,  that  I  mould 
4well  with  him  forever  in  his  kingdom,  than  I  ever  had  be- 


SAMUF.L  HOPKINS.  67 

On  ihc  icth  July  I    1  ham  to   go  to 

Newport,  by    way    of  Bofton    and  Providence, 

and  arm  ;  on  Friday,  July  21,  and 

idled  my   iirit  fermon  there  on  Lord's  day 

July  23.* 

fore.     Chrift  appeared  jreat  and  glorious  in    redeeming  hi» 
and  cvjn  m   redeeming 
I  will    rraife  thee  forever"  but   thi« 
tribute  appeared  nothing.      Then  I  faid,  "let   all   the    angels 

thee  for  thy   wonderful   works   to  me."     But  thi 

appealed  to  be  little,  which  led  me  to  fay,  glorify  thyfelf. 

*  Saturday  September  3c.     Have  been  reading  the   25th 
Pfaltn,  with  application  to  myfelf,  have  particularly  attended 
to  the  7th  vcrfe.  wl  ere  the  Pialmift  defires  that   God   would 
give  what  he  aiks  for,  fr  his  gr>oJn,fifafoy  i.  e.  for  the  fat 
the  difplay  of  hi  here   mud   be  a   great  and 

wonderful  exerclfe  and  difplay  of  ic  in  (hewing  mercy  to  him, 
was  i'o  finfal,  tmwoTthy  and  ilideferving.  This  has 
been  often  my  only  n  f ■.;••■:  ^nd  plea.  God  ihews  mercy,  for 
lit  good*  eft  fake.  This  it  a  rcafon  then  why  he  fhould  fhew 
mercy  to  mc,  for  his  own  goodnefs,  cannot  be  moredifplayed 
and  honored  than  in  his  being  good  to  me.  BleiTed  he  God  for 
this  pica.      I  can   now   fay.  mine    iniquity  for  it  it 

gre.it"  verfe  1 1. 

iiber  10  Had  a  pleafant  feafon  this  morning  fion 
after  I  rofe.  It  bc?an  with  defirei  af.er  the  holy  fpirir.  I 
faw  this  was  ail  I  ,0c  for  :     an 

the  promife,  M  Aik,  and  ye  fhail  receive."  Thcfe  words  of 
Chrill  were  on  my  mind,  he  that  forfaketh  houfe,  or  lands 
&c.  &c.    I  thought  1  had  a  heart  to  do  t  fled  Chrift 

that  he  had  given  fuch  a  heart,  as  the  greateft  poflible  gift, 
infinitely  greater  than  to  have  the  whole  world  beftowed  on 
me.  1  know  I  ought  to  be  wil  ing  to  naffer  and  die  in  the 
caufe  of  truth,  Oh  that  Chrift  would  give  me  fuch  a  heart. 

January  6,  1770.  1  have  been  walking  in  a  rnpe  walk,  by 
myfelf.     There    I   dedicated   myfelf   to    Jefus    Chrift,  v 
lirength  of  heart  and  with   unfpeakable  joy.     I  felt   it  to  be 
an  amazing  privilege  that  I    might  be  devoted   to  him,  and 
tha:  he  would  accept  fuch  an  offering,  I  felt  that  1  was  under 


68  LIFE  0* 

I  had  not  been  at  Newport  more  than  five  or 
fix  weeks  before  the  church  and  congregation 
gave  me  a  call  to  come  and  fettle  among  them  in 
the  work  of  the  miniftry.  I  took  the  matter  into 
confideration,    and   went   home  to  my    family  \ 

and  after  a  few  weeks  returned  with  a  determina- 

% 

infinite  obligations  to  this,  and  that  the  obligation  is  every 
way  unbounded  and  that  there  u  a  peculiar  happinefs  in  being; 
thus  obliged  'o  him. 

T  have  promifed  that  by  his  grace  I  never  will  recall  this 
dedication  of  myfelf  to  him,  praying  him  to  fubdue  every 
thing  in  my  heart  that  oppqfes  this  confecration,  and  that 
he  would  caufe  it  to  rile  higher  and  higher  continually. 

Saturday,  near  funfet  January  13.  Have  had  fome  fenfe 
of  God's  mercies  to  day,  and  fome  difpofitiori  to  praife  him 
for  his  wonderful  goodncfs.  I  have  had  a  degree  of  confi- 
dence that  I  am  devoted  to  God.  I  call  myfelf,  and  all  my 
concerns,  the  concerns  of  the  church,  and  the  world  on  him, 
with  fome  degree  of  fenfible  refignation  and  cheerfu*nefs. 
Have  had  more  ftrong  defires  than  ever  for  the  good  of  the 
congregation  I  am  preaching  to  ;  and  have  been  enabled  to- 
plead  for  it  with  God:  My  mouth  has  been  filled  with  ar- 
gument? and  have  had  ilrong  defires  to  be  the  inftrument  of 
building  of  it  up. 

Thutfday  evening  January  18.  Have  begun  to  write  re- 
marks upon  Mr.  Hart,  .and  think  it  my  duty  to  profecute  it 
3s  fail  as  I  can,  fuppofing  I  am  called  to  it  by  God.  O  that 
God  would  guide  my  heart,  and  my  pen,  through  the 
whole. 

Lord's  day,  January  21.  Preached  from  Heb.  ii.  3.  How 
fhall  we  efcape  &c.  had  freedom  of  fpeech,  and  now  feel 
ca  m-  and  eafy  in  my  mind,  as  having  in  fome  meafure  de- 
clared the  truth  clearly  and  plainly,  and  recommended  myfelf 
to  men's  conferences  in  the  fight  of  God.  I  pray  God  to 
give  his  blefling  to  what  has  been  faid,  may  it  be  the  means 
of  falvaticn  to  fome  poor  foul 

Saturday  January  27.  I  feemed  to  have  fome  fenfe,  to 
day,  of  God's  goodnefs  to  me,  it  furpaftes  a  1  expreflion — 
all  thought.  Oh!  how  reasonable,  how  comely  is  praife! 
Let  me  ipend  an  eternity  in  this  I 


SAMUEL  HOPr:  69 

tion  to  comply  with  their   invitation,   a>  I  found 
here  a  numb  appeared  to   be   excellent 

christians,  and  the  belt  regulated  church  that  I 
feen.  But  when  I  returned  the  committee 
came  tome,  and  faid  that  in  my  abfence  a  num- 
ber in  the  congregation  had  appeared  diflatisfi 
with  my  doctrines,  and  pains  had  been  taken  to 
promote  prejudices  againit  me.     They  therefore 

Monday  morning  4  o'clock.  Have  been  worried  about 
my  preaching  yefterday.  I  believe  it  was  the  truth,  but 
perhaps  I  had  better  not  have  preached  it  then,  but  1  fufpeft 
the  devil  has  a  hand  in  my  ur.eafinefs,  and  perplexity.  Oh 
that  Chrift  would  deliver  me  from  this  roaring  lion,  andbaf- 
fb  and  coofound  him  !  I  know  he  will,  and  that  however 
imprudent  I  am,  and  whatever  advantage  the  devil  gets  by 
it  at  prefent,  it  fhall  all  turn  againft  him  at  laft,  and  he  (hall 
be  moft  effect  ual'y  difappointed  and  confounded.  This  is 
fome  comfort  to  me,  I  think  ;  but  it  is  unfpeakably  dreadful 
to  me,  to  think  of  giving  him  advantage  by  my  imprudence 
and  fin.  O  Lord,  in  thy  righteoufnefs  deliver  me  from  this 
fubtle,  powerful,  cruel,  unjuft,  injurious  foe  !  He  has  no 
right  to  feek  my  ruin  or  the  ruin  of  others.  So  far  as  I  am 
againft  him  and  defire  to  oppofe  him,  and  fincerely  cry  to 
thee  for  deliverance,  and  his  overthrow,  I  am  in  a  rtghi 
cjufe,  O  deliver  me  in  thy  righteoufnefs.  Let  him  be  bhftcd 
forever ! 

Saturday  evening  February  10.  Have  had  freedom,  in- 
thought,  and  prayer — have  been  enabled  to  caft  all  my  cares 
and  burdens  on  God,  as  an  infinitely  full  fountain,  and  the 
portion  which  my  foul'dcfires.  1  have  fometimes  feemeel  to 
have  nothing  to  pray  for  ;  every  thing  i>  right,  and  juft  as  \ 
fhould  defire  to  have  it  be.  So  long  as  Chrift  reigns  and  has 
every  thing  in  his  hands,  I  feem  to  have  nothing  to  do,  but 
praifc. 

It  fcems  to  me  I  have  fome  higher  fenfe  of  what  is  meant 
by  living  by  faith  §n  the  fen  of  God,  than  I  ufed  to  have.  It  is 
to  make  Chrift  all,  to  feek  him  for  every  tbing,  and  live  en- 
tirely on  hi*  expence  and  charges,  having  nothing  of  cur  own 
tut  emptinefs  and  poverty. 


JO  .LIFE  OF 

wifhed  that  I  would  not  give  any  anfwer  to  their 
call  at  prefent,  but  defired  me  to  continue  to 
preach  with  them,  by  which  they  hoped  the  pre- 
judices againft  me  which  had  taken  place  would 
fubfide.  I  complied  with  their  defire,  and  con- 
tinued to  preach  to  them  till  fome  time  in  March; 
My  friends,  and  the  committee  then  thought  it 
was  belt  to  call  the  church  and  congregation 
together,  to  fee  if  they  would  renew  the  call 
they  had  given  me  to  fettle  with  them,  fuppofing 
they  would  be  fo  unanimous  that  I  mould  confent 
to  Itay.  But  when  the  leaders  among  thofe  who 
were  diiTatisfied  were  informed  of  this  proceed- 
ing, they  exerted  themfelves  to  get  people  to 
fubfcribe  in  oppofition  to  my  fettling  among 
them  ;  and  when  the  congregation  met,  it  ap- 
peared that  there  were  more  fubfcribers  againft 
me,  than  there  were  for  me.  And  the  com- 
mittee were  defired  to  inform  me  of  the  ftate  of 
the  cafe.*     This   decided  the   affair  which  had 

*  Saturday,  March  3.  I  think  I  have  given  up  every 
point  but  this  viz.  that  the  path  of  duty  may  be  made  plain. 
If  I  have  a  call  to  leave  Newport,  and  fhali  fee  it  to  be  fo,  I 
think  I  can  cheerfully  go  forth  not  knowing  whether  1  am  to 
go.  And  I  hive  a  p  eafing  hope  and  confidence  that  the  way 
will  be  made  p  ain,  why  fhould  I  not  trufl  in  that  God  for 
this,  who  ha>  hitherto  Jed  me  in  a  plain  path  efpecially  ever 
fince  I  have  had  a  heart  to  feek  this  in  a  more  particular 
manner,  making  it  my  great  petition,  not  caring,  fo  mach 
what  God  called  me  to,  if  his  call  might  be  made  clear  and 
plain. 

God's  goodnefs  has  been  increafing  upon  me  continually, 
and  I  will  hope  in  him  for  I  fhall  yet  praife  him.  I  will  now 
praifc  him  for  all  his  wonderful  goodnefs  to  me,  which  is  in- 


IllttUU  HO]  .L 

I  long  in  fufpcnfcj  and  the  way  \vns  clear  for 
my  leaving    N  fadtion 

that  the  path   of  duty    was   mack  fo  ,.nd 

thai  my  friends  who  had  been  fo  defiroua  that  I 
iliould  fettle  with   them,  would  have  no   objeo 

,  but  juftify  me  in  leaving  them.  And  I 
liad  a  degree  of  pleafure,  in  the  thought  of  re-    * 

beyond  al!  account.  God  has  forgiven  me  from  my 
youth  unto  this  Jay,  ami  why  may  I  not  trufl  in  him  now  ? 
By  hii  grace  I  will  ;  on  him  I  caft  myiclf,  on  him  I  rely  for 
pardoning,  and  upholding  mercy. 

Lord's  day  evening,  March  4.  Had  fome  uncommon  ex- 
ercifes,  this  morning.  I  longed  to  be  improved  in  the  work 
of  the  miniltry,  that  Chrift  would  be  with  me  and  make 
mc  a  blciEng.  I  offered  myfelf,  defiring  that  he  woutd  fend 
me,  fincc  he  had  fo  much  work  to  do  in  the  world,  and  fince 
he  muft  employ  unworthy,  guilty  Tinner?.  I  offered  myfelf, 
as  fuch  an  one  :  and  fince  he  glorified  himfelf  in  improving 
fuch,  the  more,  unworthy  and  vile,  the  mort  he  would  be 
glorified.  I  therefore  made  this  an  arguirent  that  I  might 
improved,  as  I  was  the  mofl  guilty  and  vile,  that  could  be 
found. 

rch  7.  Teel  ca'm,  refined,  and  In  fome  ::h- 

ful.     Oh!   what  confoLtion  is  it   that  God   reigns,  and 

the  bed  car-.-  :ft  !     And  what 

an  infinite  mercy,  that  I  may    hope,  and  be   coi  fie'ent,  that 
•\  is  my  Clod  and  Rede 

night  me  that   three 
men  who  hid  keen  moll  (lead  1  lad 

evening,  that  they    were  lorry    they    I  .  end 

they  were::  rem. 

They  were  brought  to   (hi-,   by  rr.y    faj 
faid  thil  L -: 
before.     S   . 
now  appear 

c  to  (land  fl 
How  [ 
live  to    hi:r 

•-;de. 


fl  LIFE  OF 

turning  home  to  my  family,  and  living  a  private 
life  on  my  farm.  I  therefore  gave  my  anfwer  to 
the  people  on  the  next  fabbath,  and  preached  my 
farewell  fermon,  expecting  to  go  to  my  family 
that  week.  The  congregation  appeared  atten- 
tive and  folemn,  and  numbers  were  obferved  to 
weep.* 

The  next  morning  it  was  reported,  where  I 
lodged,  that  there  appeared  to  be  a  revolution  in 
the  congregation :  That  feveral  of  the  leaders 
in  the  oppofition  to  me  appeared  to  repent  of 
what  they  had  done,  and  faid  that  their  con- 
sciences accufed  them  fo  feverely  of  their  wick- 
ednefs  in  what  they  had  done,  that  they  had  little 
or  no  fleep  during  the  night  ;  and  were  now  de- 
termined to  do  all  they  could  to  prevent  my  leav- 

*  March  »i.  My  mind  has  been  full  of  comfort  and  joy 
this  morning.  Have  had  unfpeakabiy  lv/eet  exercifes,  more 
than  can  be  mentioned.  The  fuccefs  of  "my  preaching,  Jaft 
fabbath,  is  an  inftance  of  God's  goodnefs,  beyond  any  thing 
of  the  kind  I  ever  experienced  befonJ!  The  walls  of  Jeri- 
cho are  fallen  down  by  the  blowing  ofram's  horns. 

Friday  March  23.  The  amazing  inftance  of  laft  fabbath, 
dwells  on  my  mind,  though  I  fear  it  will  not  be  improved  by 
me  as  it  ought.  When  the  walls  of  Jericho  fell  flat  before 
the  people  of  Ifrael  anaccurfed  thing  wras  foon  found  in  the 
camp,  All  was  not  dedicated  to  the  Lord,  and  he  was  dif- 
pleaied.  How  juftly  difpleafed  may  he  be,  if  this  remarka- 
ble iiiterpofition  of  divine  providence  fhould  not  be  all  cc«- 
fecrated  to  hi^  praife,  and  honor,  Oh  Lord:  keep  me  back 
from  coveting  any  thing  of  the  fpoils  of  this  victory  to  my- 
felf,  to  be  improved  in  the  gratification  of  my  pridf  and 
worldliuefs — Tkis  I  am  in  the  utmoft  danger  cf,  and  fnall  do 
worfe  than  Achan  did,  unlefs  the  Lord  hold  me  back.  O  may- 
all  be  ccr.fccrated  to  thy  glery. 


SAMUEL  HOP: 

ingthem.  And  accordingly  they  went  to  thole 
whom  they  had  influenced  to  fubferibe  againft 

my  (laying,  to  peifuade  them  to  ivi.-r.icl.      And 

that  of  thofe  who  had  been 

at  the  head  of  the  oppofition  to  me,  came  to 
,  and  confefled  they  had  oppofed  my  fettling 
in  the  congregation,  and  influenced  as  many  as 
they  could  againft  me.  But  now  were  convinced 
they  had  don  ,  and   had    taken  pains  to 

undo  what  they  had  done,  and  perfuade  thofe 
whom  they  had   fa  A  to  appear  againft  my 

fettling  among  them,  to  alter  their  fentiments 
and  conduol  ;  that  they  now  fincerely  defired 
that  I  \vc  md  be  their  minifler,  &c.      And 

I  was  at  the  fame  time  informed  that  a  number 
of  the  congregation,  who  had  been  in  a  great 
degree  in  I  with  regard  to  my  flaying  or 

going  away,  now  appeared  to  be  aroufed  and  en- 
gaged in  fa\  iy  ftaying,  and  faid  they 
would  do  all  in  their  power  to  prevent  my  leaving 
them.                    ^ 

The  next  day  the  committee  of  the  congrega- 
tion applied  to  me,  i  I  it  appeared 
that  thofe  who  had  been  in  oppjiition  to  my  fet- 
tlement  among  them,  had  .1,  and  were 
now  defirous  that  I  \  iy  with  them  ;  at 
leaft,  this  was  true  cf  the  moft  of  them  :  And 
they  believed,  if  the  c  nd  congregation 
v.vre  now  to  meet,  they  v  <ms3 
or  nearly  fo  in  renewing  their  former  invitation 
G 


74  LIFE  OF 

to  me  to  fettle  with  them  in  the  miniftry.  They 
therefore  defired  me  to  fray  till  the  church  and 
congregation  could  be  called  together,  and  renew 
their  call,  if  they  fliould  appear,  when  met,  dif- 
pofed  to  do  it.  I  confented  to  this,  and  in  the 
beginning  of.  the  next  week  the  church  and  con- 
gregation met,  and  renewed  their  invitation  to 
me  to  fettle  in  the  miniftry  with  them.  In  this 
they  wrere  almoft  unanimous  :  but  two  or  three 
cf  the  congregation,  diflented,  who  had  little  or 
no  influence  in  the  congregation.  And  two  or 
three  of  the  church,  chofe  to  be  aeuters,  and 
vote  neither  for,  nor  againft  it. 

Upon  this  I  confented  to  fettle  with  them  ; 
and  the  committee  of  the  church,  agreed  with 
me  that  the  inftalment  fhould  be  on  the  eleventh 
day  of  April ;  and  to  fend  to  five  churches  to 
affift  in  the  tranfaftion.  Which,  accordingly, 
took  place  on  April  n,   1770. 

This  event  appeared  to  give  fatisfaction  to  all. 
And  it  was  a  time  of  peculiar  gratitude  and  joy 
to  my  chriftian  friends,  of  whom  there  was  a 
confiderable  number,  who  had  fleadily  adhered 
to  me,  from  my  firft  acquaintance  with  them* 
And  their  pious  affections,  gratitude  and  joy 
were  greatly  heightened,  by  the  dark  and  trying 
fcene  which  preceded,  in  my  being  apparently 
rejected  by  the  congregation,  and  cenfequently 
determined   to  leave  them  ;  and  the  remarkable 


J 


» 


in  which  took  plac 

vor  of  1:  ich  the  band    of   * 

tion  to  me,  that  God  had  in   inch  a  i 
opened  the  way  for  my  fettling  here,  and  m 

the  way  of  duty  fo  plain  •,  and  that  inch  a  nu 

berof  very  dear  and  excellent 

were  hereby  fo  greatly  gratified.     And  I  confider- 

ed  myfelf  to    be  under  new    and  gr 

tions  to  devote  myfelf  to  the    fervice   of  j 

Chrift,  and  to  faithfulnefs  to  him,  and  the  church 

and  congregation  to  whom  I  now  Rood  re': 

as  th  tor   and  minifter.     And   now,  with 

fhame  I  relledl  upon  my  great  deficienc  y.     I  faid 

I  would  be  wife ;  but  it  has  been  far  from  me  ! 

0  Lord,  enter  not  into  judgment  with  me  :,  for 

1  cannot    Rand,  or   anfwer.     I  fly  to  pardoning 
mercy,  through  the  atonement  of  Chrift,  a. 
only  refuge. 

•  I  was  thus  f  considerable  r 

to  the  church,  which  confi. 
I think,  of  above  one  Inl- 
and female.     I  preached  a  y  Thurs- 
day  evening,  which   was   well  attended,      I  in- 
vited the  young  people  to  meet  at  my  hou     . 
males  on  one  week  and  the  I               on  the  nexu  ; 

I  to  to  continue  to  meet  <  rk  alternal 

to  hate  quedions  propofed  to  them,  which  tl 
wer  rer,   &c.     Above  forty  you 

fubferibed   to  an  engagement  to  .iofe 


16  LIFE  OF 

meetings  :  and  more  than  feventy  young  women 
After  thofe  meetings  were  attended  a  confidera- 
ble  time,  I  propofed  that  inftead  of  thefe,  which 
began  to  decline,  I  would  attend  a  lediure  every 
fabbath  evening  at  6  o'clock  in  the  meeting 
houfe,  in  which  I  would  explain  to  the  young 
people  the  fhorter  catechifm,  compofed  by  the  Af- 
femblyof  Divines  at  Weftminifter.  The  young 
people  to  fit  by  themfelves  in  the  body  of  the 
meeting  houfe  below  ;  and  elder  people  who 
were  difpofed  to  come,  to  fit  in  the  gallery,  and 
the  pews  round  the  fides  of  the  houfe  below. 
Thefe  leflures  were  crouded  \  the  congregation 
being  larger  then  than  at -the  meetings  in  the  form- 
er part  of  the  day,  as  numbers  attended  them  from 
other  congregations  in  town.  And  the  young 
people  appeared  attentive,  gave  conftant  attend- 
ance, and  behaved  decently. 

When  I  had  gone  through  the  catechifm  in 
this  way,  I  undertook  to  give  a  htftory  of  the 
bible,  in  a  courfe  of  Ie£lures,  endeavouring  to 
join  entertainment  with  inftru&ion,  and  reli- 
gious, profitable  reflections,  particularly  appli- 
cable to  young  perfons.  Thefe  le£tures  were 
continued,  and  well  attended  till  they  were 
ken  up  by  the  war  between  Britain  and 
America. 

"My  continuance  in  peace  and  quietnefs  in  this 
fituation  and  bufinefs,  was  not  more  than  four 


SAMUEL  HOP: 

years  ;  for  by  that  time  the  Britifh  v 

and  it  w« 

to  lii  my  farm  I 

continued,  b  >rt,  till  the  Britffli 

took  of   it  in  the    hitter  end    of 

17761  when  I  left  the  town,  and  retired  to 

my   family,    where   I   had  been  a   few   month*? 

>re,  and  was  inoculated,   with  mv  family  for 

mall  pox,  through  which    we  were   carried 

favourably. 

:it  great  part  of  the  fummer  of   17- 

,    preaching  to   the  congregation, 
which  w  I  believe,  the  I 

,  being  deftitute  by  the  l 

Parlous.     The  next  winter  I  (pent  at  Canterbury 
in  Conneclicut,  preacl 

irly  in  the  fpri  .:  to 

ration,  to  wl 
I  pre 

town  of 
nfordj  aiul  preaci. 
tow  -d     Woe  r.ow 

.d.      Here  I  had    my  v 
and  one  daughter  with  me,  and   continued  h 
through  the  winter   and   fummer   of   1770,  and 
the    winter   of    1780.      In  the   fpring  of 

c    my    wife    and    daughter    went   to    Gr 
Barrington  and  I  went  to  Newport: 
having  left  it  the  fall  before. 
g  z 


78  LIFE  OF 

My  church  and  congregation  were  greatly 
diminifhed.  Some  had  died,  while  the  Britifh 
were  here,  and  many  had  removed  into  the 
country,  who  had  not  yet  returned,  and  numbers 
were  fo  fettled  in  the  country,  that  they  were  not 
likely  to  return  foon,  if  ever.  And  thofe  who 
remained  in  town  were  fo  reduced  in  their  world- 
ly circumftances,  and  deje£tion  of  their  minds, 
by  living  fo  long  under  the  tyranny  of  the  Brit- 
ifh, that,  excepting  a  very  few,  they  had  not 
courage  enough  to  think  or  do  much  to  preferve 
the  congregation  from  coming  to  nothing,  by 
fupporting  the  preaching  of  the  gofpel.  And 
it  was  a  particular  difcouragement  that  the  meet- 
ing houfe  was  fo  damaged,  by  being  made  a 
barrack  for  foldiers,  that  we  could  not  meet  in  it. 
The  bell  was  taken  away  by  the  Britifh,  when 
they  left  the  town  ;  and  the  pulpit  and  moft  of 
the  infide  work  was  demolifhed  or  taken  away. 
And  the  few  who  were  here  had  not  courage  or 
ability  to  repair  it.  I  continued  more  than  a 
year  among  them,  while  in  this  fituation,  hav- 
ing no  fupport,  but  what  was  given  by  a  few 
generous  friends  :  the  congregation  doing  noth- 
ing, as  a  congregration,  not  having  courage  to 
attempt  to  have  fo  much  as  a  public  contribution 
for  a  confiderable  time. 

Having  continued  in  this  fituation  above  a 
year,  I  thought  it  was  not  my  duty,  or  even 
right  to  flay  with  them  any  longer,  unlefs  they 


[tfSL  no:  I 

thought   thcmfclves   able,  ;    to 

fup]  had 

a  prcili:i  >ple 

at  Middl  with    tfa  re  I 

and  my  fami.  >mfortably    fupported. 

I  let  the   church  igregation  know  this, 

and  told  their  illing  and  defirous  to 

d  my  life  with  them,   if  1  could  live  among 
them  with  my  family.     But  if  this  could  no: 

uld  think  it  my  duty  to  leave  them,  and 
accept  of  the  invitation  I  had  e!fewhere  ;  or 
return  home,  and  live  on  my  farm.  Upon  this 
had  a  meeting  to  fee  what  could  be  done  : 
at  which  meeting  the  people  appeared  fo  much 
concerned  an  d   in  the   matter,  and  fo 

defirous  to  Have  ra  ith  them,  and  made  a 

fubfeription  to  that  end  fo  much  more  than  was 
expected,  that  they  fent  to  me  their  defire  that  I 
would  ftay  with  them,  and  fend  for  my  wife  and 
family  ;  as  th  i    to  be  able  to  lupport  us 

comfortably. 

I  then  concluded  to  (b 
wife  and  one  daughter  came  to  live  with  me,  as 
the  reft  of  my  children  were  otherwife  fettled. 
There  was  no  particular  funi  mentioned  which 
.  would  give  ;  and  thus  I  have  lived  ever 
fince,  receiving  what  has  been  given  by  a  w 
ly  contribution,  and  donations  which  particular 
friends  have  made.  I  have  taken  care  not  to  run 
in  debt  for  the  neceffaries  of  life   ;  though  fre- 


8o  LIFE  OF 

quently  if  a  dollar  extraordinary  had  been  cal- 
led for,  it  would  have;,  rendered  me  a  bankrupt, 
I  have  endeavoured  to  live  as  cheap  and  low  as 
I  could,  and  be  comfortable,  and  anfwer  the 
ends  of  living  in  my  ftation  and  bufinefs  •,  and 
have  experienced,  through  a  courfe  of  years  re- 
markable interpofitions  in  divine  providence,  by 
which  I  have  been  fupplied  with  the  neceffaries 
of  life  in  ways  unthought  of  ;  and  have  been 
preferved  from  iuffering,  for  want  of  food  or 
raiment,  whether  I  received  lefs  or  more. 
When  more  than  common  has  been  given,  calls 
for  living  have  been  equally  greater  \  and  when 
I  have  received  but  little,  there  has  been  a*  lefs 
demand  for  neceffaries  to  fupport  the  family, 
and  lefs  has  been  as  fufficient  as  more.  This 
has  made  me  often  think  of  what  is  laid  of  the 
children  of  Ifrael,  with  refpecl  to  the  manna  on 
which  they  lived.  «  He  that  gathered  much, 
had  nothing  over,  and  he  that  gathered  little  had 
no  lack."  I  have  been  faved  from  anxiety  about 
living  :  and  have  had  a  thoufand  times  lefs  care 
and  trouble  about  the  world,  than  if  I  had  a 
great  abundance,  and  been  in  high  life,  attend- 
ed with  fervants,  equipage,  much  company, 
entertainments  and  high  living.  Being  thus 
freed  from  worldly  care  and  anxiety,  endeavour- 
ing to  caft  my  care  on  God,  with  refpecl  to 
living,  not  feeking  great  things  in  the  world  ;  and 
being  in  a  great  meafure  unconnected  with  the 
great  and  rich  in  the  world,  and  gay,  unprofita- 


SAMUEL  HOPKINS.  8i 

blc  company,  I  have  had  more  time  to  attend  to 
my  ftudies,  in  which,  and  in   a   retired  life,  k 
have  taken  t;  And  particu- 

ifufC    to    write    my  fyltem   of 
divinity  ;   which  I  hope  will  not  prove  ufclefs  . 

The  church  and  congregation  have  been 
enabled,  by  divine  providence,  in  fome  good 
meafure  to  repair  the  meeting  houfe  *,  and  do 
yet  fubfift.  But  they  are  fo  diminifhed  by  deaths 
and  removals  ;  that  the  appearance  Yiow  is,  that 
n  death  (hall  remove  me  from  them,  which 
may  be  expected  to  be  foon,  they  will  be  diflbl- 
ved  as  a  church  and  congregation,  unlefs  there 
fhould  be  an  unexpected  revolution  in  their 
difpofitions  or  circumftances.  But  this  I  would 
leave  with  him,  who  knows  what  to  do  with  me, 
with  them,  and  with  all  thtegs  elfe. 

As  to  my  domeftic  affairs.  I  have  had  eight 
children  :  Five  fons  and  three  daughters,  all 
which  lived  to  grow  up  ;  and  all  of  them  have 
been  married,  except  my  youngeft  fon,  who 
died  in  Maryland  on  the  26th  February  1788, 
in  the  twenty  fifth  year  of  his  age.  My  three 
daughters  were  married,  and  are  now  dead. 
The  oldeft  left  two  fons.  The  fecond  left  a 
daughter,  who  now  lives  with  me.  The  third 
left  an  infant  fon,  who  now  lives  with  his  fath- 
er's parents  in  Vermont.  My  two  oldeft  daugh- 
ters were  profefibrs  of  religion,  and  were  hope- 


•8a  LIFE  OF 

fully  real  chriftians.  The  youngeft  died  in  hope 
that  fhe  was  a  chriftian,  and  her  appearance  and 
converfation  were  fuch  in  her  laft  ficknefs,  that 
her  friends  who  were  with  her  and  heard  her 
converfe,  had  hope  for  her,  that  (he  made  a  hap- 
py end.  I  have  four  fons  yet  living.  One  of 
them,  the  oldeft  lives  in  Maryland,  near  Balti- 
more. Another,  the  third  lives  in  the  weftern 
part  of  Virginia.  I  attempted  to  give  him  a 
public  education,  and  he  was  a  member  of  the 
college  at  Princeton  two  years  or  more  ;  but 
want  of  health  prevented  his  continuing  there 
till  he  had  a  degree.  My  other  two  fons  live  at 
Great  Barrington. 

My  wife  was  attended  with  a  fcrofulous,  flow 
confumpticn  for  a  great  part  of  the  laft  twenty 
years  of  her  life  ;  "and  a  number  of  times  ap- 
peared to  be  almoit  gone,  and  then  would  revive 
again  and  be  better  for  a  time.  She  indured 
great  diftrefs  of  body,  almofl  conftantly  for 
years.  In  May,  1793,  *  v/ent  to  Great  Bar- 
rington with  her,  by  water  as  far  as  Hudfon, 
hoping  the  journey,  and  living  with  her  children 
in  the  country  might  be  for  her  health  and  com- 
fort. She  bore  her  journey  better  than  was 
feared,  and  appeared  better  when  fhe  arrived 
there,  than  when  fhe  fet  out  •,  and  continued 
better  great  part  of  the  fummer.  But  in  the 
end  of  July  and  in  Auguft,  fhe  grew  worfe  \ 
and  died  on  the  laft  day  of  Auguft  1793,  in  the 
Cxty  eighth  year  of  her  age. 


SAMUEL  Horr  83 

She  was  a  profeffor  of  religion,  and  I  h 
real    cliriilian.      In    the    1  I   of  her  life, 

under   her    bqdily    difurders,   which   W* 
dilli-cllm.  .  appeared  to 

.jiation  ;   and 
to  1.  belief  of  the  great    truths   of 

chriitianity,   and    a    fenfe    of  their  weight    and 
importance. 

After  the  death  of  my  wife,  I  was  left  alone 
at  Newport,  as  to  relatives,  not  having  the  mod 
diftant  relation,  within  many  miles  of  that  place. 

On  the  14th  September  1794,  I  was  married 
to  Mifs  Elizabeth  Weft,  who  was  Gxteen  or 
feventeen  years  younger  than  myilif.  She  \ 
born  and  educated  in  Bcllon  ;  but  had  lived  in 
Newport  a  number  of  years.  I  have  had  a 
particular  acquaintance  with  her  for  more  than 
irs,  whom  I  n  of 

uncommon    difcernment    with    refpect   to    the 
doctrines    of    chriitianity  ;  and    moil   fincerely 
►ted  to  die  fervice  of  Chrift.     In  our  union 
in  this  n 

bation  of    our   chriftian  fri 
where,  \.  be    pie., 

gratified  by  it.     Which  n  to 

our  happinefs  in  this  r 

in  finding  fuc 

come  into  this  relation  s  *,  and   d 


&4  LIFE  OF 

as  one  of  the  greateft  favours  of  my  life  to  have 
fuch  a  companion  in  my  advanced  years,  in 
whofe  prudence,  good  family  economy,  friend- 
fhip,  and  benevolent  care  I  can  confide  ;  and 
who  is  to  me  the  firft  obje£t  among  creatures,  o£ 
the  love  of  efteem,  benevolence,  complacency 
and  gratitude. 

My  bodily  conftitution,  I  believe,  has  been 
much  better,  than  mod  of  thofe  who  live  a  fe- 
dentary  life.  In  the  former  part  of  my  life,  in- 
deed, from  the  twenty  firft  to  the  thirty-fifth 
or  fortieth  year  of  my  age,  my  conftitution  was 
rather  flender  and  infirm  ;  but  not  fo  as  to  pre- 
vent my  attending  to  bufinefs  and  my  ftudy,  as 
much  or  more  than  is  common  among  minifters. 
Since  that  time  of  life  my  conftitution  has  been 
better,  and  I  have  enjoyed  generally  a  good  ftate 
of  bodily  health  ;  and  have  been  able  to  ftudy 
fourteen  and  frequently  eighteen  hours  in  a  day, 
generally  rifing  at  4  o'clock  in  the  morning,  or 
between  four  and  five  •,  efpeciaily  in  the  winter 
feafon.  I  have  had  feveral  fits  of  ficknefs,  in 
which  I  have  been  brought  very  low,  and  have 
been  thought  by  my  friends  to  be  near  death; 
But  thefe  ill  turns  have  not  broken  my  conftitu- 
tion, but  have  appeared  to  be  the  means  of  my 
better  health,  as  this  has  generally  been  the  con- 
fequence  ;  and  I  now  enjoy  more  bodily  eafe, 
health  and  ftrength,  than  is  common  to  men  of 
my  age.     This,  and  every  thing  relating  to  my 


mofl  mint  ow 

is  ordered  by    God,  to  anftrer  Com  md 

1:   And  v  -  to 

do  for  and  by  me  in  thi  he  will  I 

out  of  it.      How  loon,  and  in  v.  -.-ill 

be  I  know  not.     Nor  have  I   any  reafon  to  b. 

lealt   anxiou9    about    it.     May  I  wifely  im- 
prove the  gifts  of  heaven,  and   life 
while  I  enjoy  them,  and  be  alw  to  quit 

this  life,  whenever  I  fhall  be  calied  to  do  it  ! 

Of  my  perfonal  religion,  I  have  given  fome  ac- 
count already.  I  have  never  in  the  courie  of  my 
life,  fince  I  fir  it  entertained  a  hope  that  I  had 
been  brought  to  the  knowledge  of  the  truth, 
given  up  my  hope,  and  come  to  a  fettled  conclu- 
iion  that  I  had  no  grace  ;  but  my  doubts  have 
frequently  rofe  very  high.  Many  times  my  e::er- 
cifesliave  been  fuch,  as  for  a  ti  .lade  all 

doubts.     But  I  have  been    conftantly  confeious 
I  have  always  fallen  ui.  hat 

I  ought  to  be,  and  what  I  hoped  I  fhould  be. 
My  Itrongeft  religious  exercifes,  and  higheft  en- 
joyments have  taken  place  in  my  retirement  and  % 
fecret  devotions  ;  and  in  my  public  performances, 
praying  and  preaching  have  generally  been  very 
low;  which  I  have  fometimes  fufp.  an 

argument  that  my    religion   is   not   genuine.     I 
know  it  is  an    argument  againft  me,  that  I  am   . 

finfully  defective  in   my    focial  and   public 
religion  !     I  have  been  frequently  carried  out  in 

H 


LIFE  OF 

ret  in  views  of  divine  truth,  and  exercifes, 

:n  to  an  ecftafy,  while  tears  have  flowed  abun- 
with  groanings  and  defires  truly  unut- 
terable. My  religious  emotions  and  exercifes 
of  foul  in  the  view  of  the  truths  refpecSting  God, 

:  the  Saviour,  the  way  of  falvation,  my  own 
evil  character,  &c.  have  been  unfpeakably  more 
lively  and  ftrong,  than  any  emotions  and  exer- 

-s  I  have  ever  experienced,  refpecting  any 
.-,  temporal  objects.  I  have  loved  retire- 
ment, and  have  never  been  comfortable  when 
deprived  of  it ;  and  have  taken  more  pleafure 
*  alone j  than  in  any  company  :  And  have  often 
chofen  to  ride  alone,  when  on  a  journey,  rather 

n  in  the  beft  company.  I  have  for  a  Jong 
courfe  of  years,  even  from  my  fir  ft  entering  on 
the  work  of  the  miniftry,  fpent  the  laft  day  of 
the  week  in  retirement,  and  in  fading  and 
prayer,  unlefs  interrupted  by  fomething  ex- 
traordinary ;  and  have  found  great  advantage 
by  it.  This  I  have  practiced  not  as  a  burden  and 
talk,  but  as  a  privilege.  I  have  felt  and  known 
myfelf  to  be  a  low  and  fhamef ul  chriftian,  if  I 
were  one  ;  and  have  generally  reflected  on  my- 
felf, character  and  conduct,  as  a  chriftian  and 
minifter  of  the  gofpel,  with  a  painful Jloame  and 
felf  condemnation,  of  which  none  can  have 
conception  but  thofe  who  have  felt  the  fame  ; 
knowing  that  in  many  things  I  offend,  and  in 
every  thing  have  come  unfpeakably  (hort  of  what 
I  ought  to  do  and  be,  confidering  my  advantages, 


8? 

mercies  and  obligations.     My  life  and  d 
and  all  m 
ful  A 

irom   any  >uf- 

01  moral  goodnefs  that  can  recommend   mc 

to  the  favour  of  God;  and  if  I    am  dealt  with 

according  to  my  i  ,  I 

mud  be  cad  otY  by   God,  and   made  miferable 

I  iiave  i.  but  the  rightcoufnefs, 

the  infinite  merit  and  worthinefs  of  Chrift.     In 

him  I  hope  ;  to  him  I  come  for  pardon,  juftifica- 

tion   and  ion  from  all   iniquity,   while  I 

am  willing  to  be  confidered  as  infinitely   unwor- 

ind  ill   d  -  even  the  greateft  finnet 

that  is,  or  ever  was  on  earth  :     And  know  that 

if  I  ,  it  will  be  wholly  owing   to 

infinite,  fovereign   grace   ;  to    eternal,  ele&ing 

love  ;   for  which  I  cannot   give  or   conceive  a 

foil  but  that  which  was  given   by  the  Son  of 
God,  "  even  fo,   Father,  for  fo   it  feemed  good 
in  thy  fight."     I    am    truly  afhamed   of  my; 
that  I  have  lived  fo  long,  and  ha 

9    in  mental   religiot 
am,  attl.  me,  confeious  that  I  fee   but 

little  of  my  ihameful  depravity    which    lias 
actually  taken  place,  and  now  cxiiis,  and  a^  it  is 

*  ed  by    the  omnifcicnt   Saviour  ;  and  the 
fore  my  confeflions,  fhame   and  humiliation,   in 
his  fight  are    inconfiderable    and  nbthinj 

i  with  my  real  fliameful   depravity  and  ( 
•ufnefs.  ;n   well   t  ac> 


88  LIFE  OF 

«  God,  be  merciful  to  me  a  firmer  !"  And  how 
happy  are  they  who  can  and  do  underftandingly 
heartily  and  conftantly  make  it  !  I  have  kept  a 
journal  at  fome  feafons  of  my  life,  in  which  fome 
of  my  religious  exercifes  are  recorded  more  par- 
ticularly than  they  are  here  defcribed. 

My  preaching  has  always  appeared  to  me  as 
poor,  low  and  miferable,  compared  with  what 
it  ought  to  be  \  and  frequently  a  fenfe  of  my 
deficiencies  in  this  has  been  very  painful  and  dif- 
couraging  \  and  I  have  felt  often  as  if  I  muft 
leave  off,  and  never  attempt  any  more  ;  and 
commonly,  if  not  always,  a  profpect  of  preach- 
ing and  when  I  have  been  entering  upon  it,  has 
brought  a  peculiar  burden  on  my  mind.  And 
many  times,  when  I  have  been  preaching,  it  has 
left  a  painful  confcioufnefs  that  I  have  come  un- 
fpeakably  fhort  of  what  ought  to  be.  And  I 
haye  never  wondered  that  my  preaching  has  been 
attended  with  fo  little  apparent  good  effect:,  fmce 
it  has  been  fo  deficient  every  way.  But  few  per- 
fons  have  appeared  to  have  been  awakened  and 
converted  by  means  of  my  preaching.  The 
moft  apparent  good  it  has  ever  been  the  means 
of  doing  is  the  inftruclion,  quickening  and  com- 
fort of  chriflians.  Many  of  this  character,  and 
efpecially  thofe  who  have  appeared  moil  eminent 
in  difcerning  and  chriftian  experience,  have 
highly  approved  of  my  preaching,  which  has 
been  a  great  fupport  and  encouragement  tome  ; 


SAMUEL  HOP!  89 

though   i  »ften  difpofcd   to  attribute 

tion  and  appi 

velith  for  the  truth,  b 

the  delivery  arid  exhibition  of  it  maybe,      It 
ofteu  given  me  pleaiure  to  look    forward   to  the 
millennium,  and  coofidei  w  I  prcach- 

1  take  place;  when  the  miniftei 
d  fhall  be   full   of 
and    exhibit   the   important,    amiabl  of 

chriflianiry,  in  their  true  com. 
beauty  :  and  their  hearers  full  of  fenfibi 
difcerning,  ai  fe  of  a  high  1 

for    I  Kquifitely  ;ind 

nouriihing  food  for  their  minds,  will  giv< 
pleafmg  and  folemn   a 
partaking  of  the  h  :id  moil 

tent     How  low,  mean  and  uner 

:  preaching  we  now  have  ;  and  how- 
low  the  attent 

compared  with  that,  oi  which  2  but 

a  faint  and  WCT] 

forty  years  or  more,  mice  I  entered  on  the 
workoi  it  my  px 

bible,  one  in  the 
forenoon,  and  the  other  in  the  afternoon  ;   and  to 

thing  on  the  chapter  by  way  of  1 
tion,  and  improvement,   i 
confined   myfclf,  as   to  the  time  I  (fa 
upon  it,  but  have  faid  more  or  k  I 

would  be  mod  inltruaive  and   \ 
11  2 


9°  LIFE  OF 

der  to  do  this  in  the  beft  manner  I  could,  I  have 
attended  to  the  chapters  to  be  read,  before  the 
fabbath,  and  confulted  thofe  expofitors  which 
were  within  my  reach  ;  which  has  generally  coft 
me  as  much  time  and  pains,  as  the  ftudying  of 
my  fermons.  And  I  have  thought  this  was  as 
profitable  part  of  the  public  exercifes,  as  preach- 
ing, which  has  not  been  neglected  by  thus  read- 
ing and  expounding.  And  I  have  had  fatisfac- 
tory  evidence  that  the  hearers  in  general  have 
been  pleafed  with,  and  thought  themfelves  rnoft 
edified  by  this  pra&ice.  And  I  have  for  fome 
years  paft  neglefted  to  preach  a  fermon,  in  the 
common  way,  in  the  forenoon,  and,  inftead1  of 
it,  have  expounded  and  improved  the  chapter 
which  comes  in  courfe  in  the  new  teftament. 
And  this,  fo  far  as  I  can  learn,  has  been  as  accept- 
able to  the  congregation  in  general,  as  preaching 
from  one  particular  text,  if  not  more  fo. 

I  have  not  been  confined  to  my  notes  in  preach- 
ing, except  for  a  fhort  time,  when  I  firft  began  ; 
and  have  not  generally  written  my  fermons  in 
full  length  ;  but  only  the  heads  of  them,  and 
fome  fhort  hints  to  fugged  ideas,  which  were  to 
be  mentioned  under  the  general  heads.  I  do  not, 
however,  recommend  this  as  the  befl  method. 
I  think  it  would  be  beft,  in  general,  to  write  all 
the  fermon,  and  commit  it  to  memory,  with  an 
allowance  to  deviate  in  fome  inftances  from  what 
has  been  written,  and  to  add   to  it,  what  may 


91 

be  fi  I   to  the    mind  in  .cry.     If 

ticc  be  diligently  me, 

.iblc  not  only 
to  preaci.  ,   but    his  mind  will  be 

fo  furniihed  with  the  knowledge  of  divinity  that 
lie  will  be   able   to  preach  without    writing 

I  hare  not  written  the  fermons  which  I  have 
preached  for  fome  years  pad.  I  have  written  in 
this  time  more  on  the  various  fubjects  of  divinity, 
than  in  former  years  •,  but  not  in   the  form 

l  m<.  And  I  iuppofe  that  a  minifter  cannot 
improve  his  mind  in  the  beft  manner,  and  make 
jyoper  advances  in  the  knowledge  of  divinity, 
unlets  he  ules  himielf  to  write  on  divine  fub- 
jecls. 

I  am  fenfible  tint  I  was  greatly  deficient  and 
negligent  in  the  former  part  of  my  life  in  my  at- 
tention to  lai  j  id  taking  pains  to  obtain  a 
goo  !  hich  occafioned  a  very  bad  and 
difagreeable  delivery,  and  rendered  me  not  a 
good,  but  a  bad  fpeaker  ;  efpecially  in  the  former 
part  of  my  miniilry  ;  though  fince  for  above 
thirty  years  I  have  made  fome  improvement  in 
my  delivery,  by  paying  more  attention  to  it,  and 
to  language,  by  which  I  have  been  in  a  great 
meafure  cured  of  fome  of  my  bad  habits,  con- 
tracted through  inattention,  and  the  want  of  a 
friend  to  point  them  out  to   me,  and   admonifti 


92  LIFE  OF 

me.  When  I  firfl  began  to  preach,  my  mind 
was  inquiring  after  truth  ;  and  this  pleafed  and 
fatisfied  me  where  ever  I  could  find  it,  without 
attending  much  to  the  manner  or  the  language 
by  which  it  was  conveyed  to  my  mind.  And  I 
took  it  for  granted  that  this  was  the  cafe  with 
others.  This  led  me  to  enquire  after  truth  and 
in  my  fermons  to  convey  it  to  others,  without  at- 
tending properly  to  the  manner  and  the  language 
in  which  it  was  communicated.  So  that  while, 
I  truft,  I  made  fome  proficiency  in  the  knowl- 
edge of  the  truth,  I  was  carelefs  as  to  the  manner 
of  communicating  it,  and  contracted  thefe  bad 
habits,  with  refpecT:  to  this,  which  it  was  not 
eafy,  if  poflible,  to  get  wholly  rid  of,  when  I 
became  fenfible  of  my  miftake,  and  was  convinc- 
ed of  the  importance  of  ftudying  good  language 
and  a  proper  delivery. 

If  I  have  been  the  mean  of  doing  any  good; 
snd  of  promoting  the  true  intereft  of  the  church, 
or  kingdom  of  Chrift  ;  by  detecting  error  and 
difp laying  and  vindicating  the  truth,  I  believe 
it  has  been  principally  by  my  writings  and  pub* 
lications,  which  involved  me,  for  a  number  of 
years,  in  difputes,  as  there  were  feveral  minifters 
who  wrote  againft  what  I  had  advanced  in  fome 
of  my  publications,  whom  I  anfwered  ;  and  I 
believe  truth  Ins  gained  great  advantage  hereby. 

In  the  year   1759 1  publifhed  three   fermons 


from   R  itlccl   *  £ 

throu  •  to 

the  a 

encouragement  to  it."  tie  was  fo  (hock- 

ing to  many,  that  they  would  read  no 
And  many  who  read  the  fermons,  were  far  from 
falling  in  with  the  fentiment  advanced.  But 
few  had  ftudied  the  point  and  it  was  a  new  doc- 
trine to  many.  Yet  no  one  undertook  publicly 
to  confute  it.      And  many   who  read  the  fermons 

convinced  of  the  truth  exhibited  in  the 
and  thought  the   rcafoning  from    fcripture  to  be 
traanl  ,  and  the   fentiments    which   were 

advanced  to  be  important  and  ufeful.      And  this 
conviction  Ins  been  fpreading  from  that  time,  to       • 
this,  and  the  mod  who  are  fcrious  and  attentive, 

her  minifters  or  others,  approve  of  this  pub- 
lication, fo  far  as  I  can  judge.  And  light  on  this 
fubje£t  has  been,  and  itill  is  increafmg.  Theft 
fermons  had  a  fecond  edition  in   Bofton,  in  the 

[773.  And  about  the  fame  time  another 
edition  of  them  was  printed  in  Edinburgh,  Scot- 
land. 

In  the  year  176^,  I  publifhed  a  book  of  one 
hundred  and  forty-five  pages,  octavo,  the  tide 
of  which  was,  "  An  inquiry  concerning  the 
promifes  of  the  gofpel  :  Whether  any  of  them 
made  to  the  exercifes  and  doings  of  perfoni 
in  an  unregenerate  itate.  Containing  remark 
<^n  two  fermons,  publifhed  by  Doctor  MayhdiB 


U1C 

em     I 

MIS 

rks   . 


* 


94  LI*E  OF 

of  Bofion."  In  thefe  fermons  Do£lor  Mayhew1 
.attempted  to  prove  that  there  are  promifes  to  the 
doings  of  the  unregenerate.  In  the  tenth  and 
lad  feclion  of  this  book  I  attempted  to  {hew  what 
is  the  defign  and  end  of  the  ufe  of  means,  with 
refpect  to  the  unregenerate,  in  order  to  their 
falvation  •,  where  I  obferved,  that  the  end  was 
not  to  render  the  unregenerate  better  or  lefs  finful 
while  they  continued  unregenerate  :  For  per- 
fons  while  they  continued  to  reje£t  the  gofpel, 
which  all  the  unregenerate  did,  under  all  the 
means  ufed  with  them,  and  with  all  the  light 
and  conviction  they  might  have,  did  not  become 
lefs  finners,  but  greater  and  more  guilty  what- 
ever external  reformation  might  take  place. 
Though  this  truth  had  been  at  lead  implicitly  af- 
ferted  in  the  writings  of  many  calvinifts,  and 
in  their  preaching,  yet  it  had  not  been  fo  ex- 
plicitly and  particularly  aflerted  and  explained 
by  calviniftic  writers  and  preachers  in  general ; 
and  many,  in  contradiction  to  what  they  at  other 
times  faid,  and  to  true  calvinifm,  faid  things 
which  implied  the  contrary,  and  reprefented 
the  convinced  and  externally  reformed  finner, 
though  unregenerate,  and  continuing  to  reje£l 
the  gofpel,  as  a  much  lefs  finner,  and  lefs  guilty 
than  the  una  wakened,  fecure  finner.  Therefore, 
though  Doctor  Mayhew,  who  was  not  a  calvinift, 
made  no  reply  to  my  remarks  on  his  fermons, 
yet  many  profeffed  calvinifts  thought  the  fenti- 
inent  I  had  advanced  was  contrary  to  the  truth, 


95 

and  of  a  \mong  the  reft, 

Lipton  in  ( 
alarmed  5  and  thought  the  d  had    pub- 

lilhed  wm  new  and  (1  .ry  to  the  bible, 

and   tended   to   gr  He  therefore 

thought   it   his  duty  to    oppoie,   and    attempt  to 
ie,   and  publiflied  a  book  of  one    hun- 
dred and  twenty-tour  pages  againlt   me,  in  the 
1  767. 

In   1768,  a  fermon  which  I  preached  in  the 

old  fouth  meeting-houfe  in  Bofton  was  publiflied 
at  the  defireof  a  number  of  the  hearers.  The 
title  of  it  is,  "  1  he  importanee  and  neceflity  of 
chrillians  confidering  Jcfus  Chrifl  in  the  extent 
of  his  high  and  glorious  character."  The  ; 
Hebrews  iii.  1.     It  was  compofed  v  fign 

to  preach  it  in  Bofton,  as  I  expected  foon  to  go 
there,  under  a  conviction  that  the  doctrine  of 
the  divinity  of  Chrift  was  much  neglected,  if 
not  difbelieved  by  a  number  of  the  miniiters  in 
Bofton 

In  the  f  u  I  publiflied  two  fermon- . 

from  Roman-  he  other  from  John  i.  13. 

ing  fixty-five  p  fmallcompi 

A    fecond  edition  oT  thefe   fermons 
printed  in  1793. 

In  the  year  1 769  I  publiflied  my  anfwer  u 
Mills  of  one  hundred  eighty  four  p 
on  a  fmall  eomprehenfive  type.     The  following 


«t 


% 


•. 


y6  LIFE  OF 

was  the  title  of  it.  "  The  t-^z  ftate  and  char* 
acl;r  of  the  unregenerate,  It  ripped  of  all  mif- 
repreientation  and  difguife."  I  believe  this 
book,  v/ith  what  was  afterwards  published  on 
the  fame  fubject,  was  the  means  of  fpreading 
and  giving  much  light  and  conviftion,  with 
refpecl  to  the  real  character  and  doings  of  the 
unregenerate  ;  and  has  in  a  great  meafure  put  a 
flop  to  exhorting  the  unregenerate  to  do  duty  in 
order  to  obtain  regeneration,  which  was  very 
common  among  preachers  before  that  time. 
Some  of  my  friends  thought  I  treated  Mr.  Mills 
with  too  much  feverity,  in  taking  pains  to  fhow 
how  many  felf-contradi£tions  were  to  be  found 
in  his  writings,  and  to  difcover  his  weaknefs,,&c. 
fince  I,  as  well  as  others,  believed  he  was  a  good 
man,  and  had  done  much  good,  and  the  oppofi- 
tion  he  had  made  to  me  was  more  owing  to  his 
weaknefs  and  his  old  age,  and  his  fpeculative  er- 
ror, than  to  his  oppofition  of  heart  to  the  truth. 
And  I  believe  there  is  fomething  of  this  kind, 
which  ought,  all  things  confidered,  to  be  left 
out,  or  otherwife  exprefled  -,  though  I  had  no 
perception  of  it  in  the  time  of  it ;  but  thought 
I  was  confeientioufly  careful  to  leave  out  all 
perfonal  refleftions  and  every  thing  which  was 
not  neceffary  in  the  bed  manner  to  expofe  error 
and  vindicate  the  truth.  But  how  deceitful  is 
the  heart  !     Who  can  underftand  his  errors  ! 

In  the  latter  end  of  the  year  1 769,  or  beginning 


SAMUEL  HOI'K  97 

177c,  Mr.  William  Hart  of  Saybrook  pub- 
liihed   a   dialogue,    under    the    foil.  tide, 
"  Brief  remarks  on  a  number  of  falfe   politic 
and  dangerous   errors,  which    are   '  in 
the  country  •,  collected  out  of  fundry  difcourfes 
.  publiihed,  wrote  by  Dodtor  Whitaker  and 
Hopkins."     And  foon    after  there  was    a 
Imall  pamphlet  publiihed,  which   was  doubtlefs 
written  by  the  fame  Mr.  Hart,  which  was  writ- 
ten in   a  i  arc  a  (tic  a  1   way,  without  argument  or 
reafon,  in  which  the  doctrines  I,  and  others  who 
agreed  with  me,  had  publiihed  were  mifrepre- 
fentcd  ;  attempting  to  fet  them  in  a  ridiculous 
articular  defign,  as  it  ap- 
red,    to    difgrace  me  before  the  public,  he 
called  them  Hopiintonian   !      .                            the 
original  of  this  epithet.     And  fince  that  time*}! 
wlio  embrace  the   c 

were  publiflied   by  Prefident  Edwards,  Doctor 
Bellamy,  Doclor  Weft  of  Stockbridge, 
felf,  have  been  called 

/tans.     Thus  I  am  become  the  head  of  a  denomi- 
nation, who  have  finite  greatly  increafed,  and  hi 
which  thoufands  are  included,  and  a  large  ni 
ber  of  minilters,  who,  I  :he  mod 

found, confident  and  thorough    call 
who  in  general  fuitain  as  good  a  di  3  to 

their  morality,  preaching  and   perfonal  religion, 
as  any  fet  of  clergymen  wl  .  10ft 

popular  where  there  appears  to  be  molt  attention 
to  religion  :    And,  at  die  fame    time, 
1 


9o  LIFE  01 

hated,  oppofed  and  fpoken  agaiifft,  by  arminiaiis, 
delfts  and  perfons  who  appear  to  have  no  reli- 
gion. And  I  believe,  though  this  denomination 
or  name  originated  from  no  fuch  defign,  that  it 
has  proved  an  advantage  to  truth  and  true  reli- 
gion, as  it  has  given  opportunity  and  been  the 
qccafion  of  collecting  thofe  who  embrace  the 
fcheme  of  chriftianity  exhibited  in  the  foremen- 
tioned  publications  and  ranking  them  under  one 
ftandard.  It  has  excited  the  attention  and  pro- 
moted enquiry  into  the  principles  and  do£lrines 
which  are  embraced  and  held  by  thofe  of  this 
denomination,  by  which  light  and  conviction 
have  been  fpread  and  propagated. 

Thefe  writings  of  Mr.  Hart's  were  publiflied, 
wrhile  I  was  at  Newport,  preaching  on  proba- 
tion. Pains  were  taken  to  fend  and  fpread  them 
there,  by  thofe  who  were  not  friendly  to  my 
fentiments,  and  confequently -not  friendly  to  me, 
and  to  my  fettling  in  the  firft  congregational 
church  in  Newport  ;  with  a  view,  no  doubt,  to 
prejudice  the  people  of  that  church  and  congre- 
gation agamfl  me.  And  it  had  this  cfteft,  in 
fome  meafure  for  a  time ;  but  was  foon  ccun- 
terucled  and  loft  the  influence  defigned  ->  and 
probably  had  a  contrary  effect  in  the  iiTue. 

Tliis  occasioned  my  writing  remarks  on  thofe 

;  efpecially  the  dialogue,  with  the 

following     title.      "    Animadverfions   on   Mr, 


er  to   a 

; 

I 
id  publiihed  ;   but  rather  to 
nefs  an'.:  nuity  of    Mr.    1 1 

- 
had 

Mr.  : 

f!:or)  hal 
before  publii  t  fermons  to 

con.  one  hundred  twei 

linft  me  and  my  p 

■    . 

mentioned  Mr.  Hart:, 

tion 

ntioned  rr 

bation.     And  about  the  E 

lemned    f 

and  my  v.     I 

• 
As  I  was  fenfible  the   difference  bet1 
efe    authors    originated    in  i 

ure  of  true  holinef -,   in    i- 
publtfhed  a  book  of  two  hundred  : 
ocravo;  containing,  "  An  inquiry  in:o  r1 


IOO  LIFE  OF 

of  true  holinefs  ;  with  an  appendix,"  in  which 
I  anfvvered  the  publications  above  mentioned. 
That  on  the  nature  of  true  holinefs  had  a  fecond 
edition  of  one  thoufand  five  hundred  copies,  in 
the  year  1791.  Mr.  Hart  and  Do&or  Mather 
wrote  no  more.  But  Do&or  Hemmenway  pub- 
lifhed  remarks  on  my  anfwer  to  him,  in  1774* 
containing  one  hundred  fixty  fix  pages,  o£tavo. 
But  as  little  or  nothing  was  in  this  added  to  what 
was  contained  in  his  firft  book,  and  it  contained 
perfonal  reflections,  and  too  much  heat  and 
haughtinefs  ;  -all  which  he  confefied  to  me  after- 
wards in  a  perfonal  interview,  I  did  not  think  it 
worth  while  to  take  any  public  notice  of  it. 
And  I  believe  it  was  not  much  read,  and  had 
but  little  influence  on  the  minds  of  any. 

In  the  year  1776  I  publHhed,  «  A  dialogue 
concerning  the  flavery  of  the  Africans  •,  {hewing 
it  to  be  the  duty  and  interefl  of  the  American 
ftates  to  emancipate  all  their  African  flaves." 
Dedicated  to  the  honorable  continental  congrefs. 
To  which  I  did  not  fet  my  name.  It  was  re- 
printed by  the  Abolition  Society  in  New  York 
in  1785,  to  which  is  prefixed  the  inftitution  of 
that  Society.  To  this  edition  I  added  aa 
appendix. 

In  the  year  1783  I  publifiied  "An  enquiry- 
concerning  the  future  ftate  of  thofe  who  die  in 
their  fins,"     In  which  I  attempted  to  fhow  from 


t  the  pui 

. 
?  >.     I  pul 

the  do£lrine  of    ui 

I    an  I    - 
number,  and  began  to  fj 

In 

er.     To 

in  tv. 
taining  o 

page?.     Sold  to  fubferibers  •$  a 

let.    There   was  a    targe  fubfeription    for  this 
work  of  above  one  thoufand   two  hundred.     I 
-    right    to   the    printers  f( 
en     helj 
in  the    low,  deranged    ftate  of  my  chu 

tidn  ;  without  which  I  kno 
I  ftio  :   no  exp< 

of  gettin  7    by   the  publication,  when  I 

began,  and  while    I    v  g   it  for  the 

prefs,  nor  had  the  lead  view    or  thought  of  it. 
I  wafrabout  ten  years  conn 
!t  for  the  prefs.     It  ha;,  been  a  Lbork 

rhicli    I  conildev   as   the    , 
fervicc  that  I  have  ever  done.     It  ha 


102  LIFE  OF 

I  expefted,  both  in  America  and  Europe  ;  and 
no  one  has  undertaken  to  anfwer  it  ;  though 
fome  curfory  remarks  have  been  made  upon  fome 
parts  of  it,  by  way  of  objeftion ;  which,  I 
believe,  will  not  have  much,  if  any  influence  to 
prevent  the  credit  and  ufefulnefs  of  it. 

I  have  lately  been  writing  the  life  of  Mife 
Sufannah  Anthony,  who  died  in  the  year  1791* 
confifting  chiefly  in  extracts  from  her  writings. 
Itis  gone  to  prefs,  and  I  expeft  will  be  printed 
in  a  few  months.  She  was  an  eminent  and  ex- 
traordinary chriftian.  And  I  think  it  a  great  fa- 
vor to  have  the  particular  acquaintance  I  have 
had  with  her  $  and  to  have  enjoyed  her  friend- 
ship and  prayers  for  a  number  of  years.  I  have 
pleafure  in  the  profpeft  of  promoting  her  ufe- 
fulnefs, after  her  death,  and  mine,  by  publifh- 
ing  her  life,  and  a  fmall  part  of  her  writings. 
It  now  appears  to  me  pi'oft  probable  that  this  is 
the  laft  publication  I  fhall  be  concerned  in  ;  ex- 
cept fome  fhort  eflays  which  I  may  prepare  for 
the  Theological  Magazine,  which  is  now  print- 
ed once  in  two  months,  by  Mr.  Davis  in  New- 
York. 

About   forty  years  ago   there  were  but  few, 

perhaps  not  more  than  four  or  five  v/ho  efpoufed 

the    fentiments,  which   fince  have   been  called 

^  Ed-wardeatiy  and   new  divinity  and  fince,  after 

fome  improvement  was  made  upon  them,  Hop- 


SAMUEL  HOPKINS.  J03 

kintonuiUy  or  Hopkinfum  fentiments.  But  thefe 
ftntimentS  have  fo  fpread  QnCC  that  time  among 
mini.  Uj  thofc  who  have  fince  come 

on   the    it ...    ,  there  are    now   more    than    •  ■ 

e  miniftry  who  cfpoufe  the 
fentiments,  in  the  United  States  of  Amcri- 
ca.  And  the  number  appears  to  be  fad  increas- 
ing, and  thefe  fentiments  appear  to  be  coming 
more  and  more  into  credit,  and  are  better  under- 
stood, and  the  odium  which  was  caft  on  them 
and  thofe  who  preached  them,  is  greatly  fub- 
iided. 

This  appears  to  me  to  be  favourable  to  the 
caufe  of  truth,  and  of  Jefus  Chrift  and  to  be  af- 
cribed  to  his  power  and  grace,  and  is  matter  of 
great  encouragement j  in  the  mid  ft  of  the  fpread 
of  error  and  delufion,  of  infidelity,  and  all  man- 
ner of  vice  and  wickednefs.  And  fo  far  as  I 
been  made  a  mean  ana*  inftrument,  ^f  this 
by  my  writing  Jiing  and   cenvenation,  I 

have  reafon  to  rejoice  and  be  thankful,  while  all 
is  to  be  afcribed  to  the  fovereign  grace  of  the 
Redeemer.  And  I  have  particular  reafon  to  be 
thankful  and  rejoice  that  I  have  been  the  means 
of  the  conversion  of  more  than  one,  who  are 
now  h%the  miniftry,  which  they  themfelves  think 
fact  ;  and  of  enlightening  and  removing  the 
prejudices  of  others,  who  were  before  in  a  great  v 
mcafure  blind  to  thofe  truths,  which  they  now 
fee  to  be  evident  and  important.     May  I  not  re- 


E  OF 

joice  in  this  :  And  may  I  not  hope  "  to  rejoice 
in  the  day  of  Chrift,  that  I  have  not  run  in  vain, 
neither  laboured  in  vain  r"  May  God  have  all 
the  glory,  Amen. 

N.  B.  I  finifhed  writing  the  foregoing  (ketches 
of  my  life  on  the  21  ft  day  of  July  1796. 


'This  is  an  addition  to  the  former  Jk  etches  of  my  life 
fni/hed  July  21 ,  1796,  having  lived  to  this  day 
December  16,    1799. 

SOON  after  I  had  finifhed  the  foregoing 
fketches,  Mrs.  Ofborn  died,  and  left  all  her 
manufcripts  in  my  hands,  with  a  defire  that  I 
would  make  that  ufe  of  them  that  I  thought 
proper.  Atjd  it  was  thought  beft  to  publiflx 
memoirs  of  her  life,  confiding  chiefly  in  extracts 
from  her  wTritings,  which  were  many.  This 
made  &  neceffary  to  read  all  her  manufcripts 
which  filled  above  forty  volumes  of  confiderable 
bignefs  ;  in  order  to  extract  for  publication 
what  fhould  be  thought  neceffary,  in  order  to  be 
moft  ufeful.  On  this,  and  in  tranfcribing  for 
the  prefs  I  employed  all  my  fpare  time  for  a  year 
or  more.  It  makes  a  volume  in  print  of  near 
four  hundred  pages; 

I  confider  it  as  a  great  and  peculiar  favor  of  the 
head  of  the  church,  that  he  has,  in  his  provi- 
dence, given  me  opportunity  to  psblifh  the  lives 


SAMw  'INS.  IO5 

of  Mrs.  Ofborn    .  -honw  w 

in  mv  judgment,  the  mod  eminent  hrif- 

tians  with  whom  I  have  had  any  acquaintance. 
The  public  and  even  chriiiia.: ;,  v.  ho  never  were 
acquainted  with  them,  will  not,  by  reading  what 
is  publifhed  of  them,  have  a  full  and  adequate 
idea  of  their  excellent  character.  I  think  it  a 
great  happinefs  to  have  been  intimately  acquaint- 
ed with  them  for  near  thirty  years,  and  to  en- 
joy their  friendihip  and  prayers.  I  hope  that 
what  is  publifhed  of  them  will  be  of  great  bene- 
fit to  die  church  not  only  in  this  generation,  but 
mages  yet  to  come. 

On  the  tenth  of  lad  January  I  was  fuddenly 
feized  with  a  paralytic  ftroke,  which  affe&ed  my 
right  fide,  and  rendered  my  limbs  of  that  fide 
in  a  great  meafure  ufelefs,  and  much  affected 
my  fpeech  ;  but  was  attended  with  little  or  no 
pain  >  and  the  rxercife  of  my  reafon  and  mental 
faculties  was  not  in  the  leaft  affected.  This  ap- 
peared to  threaten  my  fpeedy  diflblution  in  my 
view  and  in  the  view  of  my  friends,  either  by  a 
greater  and  more  deadly  flroke,  or  fome  other 
way.  To  be  fure  I  feafonably  confidered  it  as  a 
warning  to  be  ready  for  death.  I  felt  that  God 
had  laid  his  hand  lightly  upon  me,  and  that  the 
ajftttion  was  attended  with  much  tender  mercy  ; 
and  was  refigned  and  thankful.  For  a  fhort 
time  at  firft,  my  mind  was  dark,  and  I  feemed 
to  myfelf  ^to  be  in  a  meafure  fbut  out  from  the 


lerO  LIFE  CF 

fenfible  prefence  of  God  and  the    Saviour  :  but 
foon  I  was  led  to  a  view  and  fenfe  of  Jefus  Chrift, 
as  exalted  to  the   throne  of  the  univerfe,  having 
all  power  in  heaven  and  earth,  cloathed  with  in- 
finite   power,  wifdom,  rectitude    and  goodnefs, 
governing  the   world  and    ordering  every  event, 
the  lead  and  greateft,  as  it  (hall  be  mofl   for  his 
glory,  and   the  greateft   general    good  ;  having 
mercy  on  whom  he  will  have  mercy,  and  har- 
dening whom   he  will  ;  and  fhowing    mercy  to 
every  one,  to  whom  he  can  do  it,  confidently 
with  wifdom  and  goodnefs  :  That  is,  confidently 
with  the  greateft   difplay  of  his  character  and 
perfections,  and  the    higheft    happinefs    of  the 
creation  :  and  that  all  this,  and  every  thing  and 
event  and  circumftance    were   determined  and 
fixed  from  eternity,  by  eternal  unerring  wifdom, 
righteoufnefs   and    goodnefs.     In  this  view  the 
Saviour  appeared  infinitely  great  and  important, 
and  divinely  worthy  and  amiable.     I  felt   myfelf 
and  all  creatures  and  things    to  be  in  his  hands, 
and  was  pleafed  and  rejoiced  in  this  •,  knowing 
that  every  thing  was  ordered  and   conduced  in 
the  wifeft  and  beft  poffible  manner,  fo  as  to  an- 
fwer  the  belt  and  moft  defirable  ends;  that    the 
Saviour  would  injure  none,  fulfil  all  his  promif- 
es  to  a  tittle,  and  accomplifh    all  his    defigns  in 
the  beft  time  and  the  moft  defirable  and  perfect 
uner  :  fo  that  all  is  well,  in  the  beft  and  moft 
rraWe  fituation  that  poflibly  can  be.     In  a  be- 
lief and  fenfe  of  this,  and  more,  whrch  cannot 


io7 

my  foul  was  full   of  comfort   a 
Lord  Jefl      l 
the  :1  is  in  tfa 

ad  will  do  w  r  he 

In   thefe  pleafing  and   comfortable  views  and 

exercifes   I  had    no   particular    attention   to  or 
thought  of  myfelfj  whether   1  Wei 

(hould  be  fared  ov  not.     But  my  comfort  and 

joy  were  derived  from,  or  c  unfilled    in  a 

view  and  icnic  of  the  excellent,  glorious  charac- 
ter of  Chrift,  in  whofe  hands  I  and    all    things 
uld  order  and  difpofe  of  things 
me  and  all  men  and   creatures,  fo  as 

he  higheft  degree  to  promote  his  glory/  or  the 
glory  of  God,  which  is  the  fame  ;  and  effect  the 

ateft  general  good  or  happinefs,  or  the  wifeft 
and  bed  ends.  In  this  vie w my  heart  laid,  with 
llrong  emotions,  and  the  mod  pleafing  fenfations, 
Amen  !  "Thy  will  be  done  !"  without  know- 
ing or  confidering,  what  his  \\  concern- 
ing me.  Had  I  reflected  judicioully  on  my 
own  exercife^,  I  might  have  rationally  judged 
them  to  be  agreeable  to  the  truth,  and  an  evi- 
dence that  I  was  a  friend  to  Chrilt  ;  but  I  did 
notfo  reflect  as  to  make  this  conclufion.  This 
view  and  fenfe  of  things  ftiil  abides  with  me, 
but  at  different  times  in  a  higher  and  lower  de- 
gree *,  but  not  fo  that  I  can  infer  from  it,  w 
aut  hefitation,  that  I  am  a  real  chriftian,  and 


10$  LIFE  OF 

fhall  be  faved.  My  views  and  exercifes  appear 
to  me,  fo  much  below  the  truth,  and  fo  incon- 
flant  that,  fometimes,  I  doubt  of  their  reality, 
or  of  their  being  real  chriftian  exercifes :  and  I 
have  fuch  a  deceitful  heart,  that  I  fear  delufion  ; 
though  at  times  all  doubts  fubfide.  My  perfon 
and  whole  interefl  in  time  and  to  eternity  is,  com- 
pared with  the  grand  whole,  the  glory  of  God, 
and  the  beft  interefl;  of  his  kingdom,  fo  fmall 
and  inconfiderable,  that  when  I  have  the  latter 
in  a  fenfible  view,  the  former  finks  into  a  mere 
fpeck  or  nothing,  and  is  almoft  wholly  overlook- 
ed and  forgotten,  and  the  language  of  my  heart 
is,  "  Let  God  be  glorified  by  all,  and  the  beft 
interefl  of  his  kingdom  be  fecured  and  promoted, 
let  what  will  become  of  me  and  my  interefl:  !" 
And  while  I  fee  the  former  grand  interefl  is  fe- 
cure,  and  will  be  in  the  beft  manner  promoted, 
I  am  fatisfied  and  rejoice.  And  this  fo  engroiTes 
my  thoughts  and  reflections,  that  I  do  not  attend 
to  the  interefl  of  any  individual  perfon,  my  own 
or  any  one  elfe,  fo  as  to  excite  any  fenfible  joy  or 
forrow,  hope  or  fear  ;  the  interefl  of  fuch  indi- 
vidual being  overlooked  as  not  worthy  of  any  re- 
gard, in  comparifon  with  the  grand  interefl,  of  the 
whole  :  This  fo  imprefles  the  mind  and  fills  it> 
as  to  exclude  the  other. 

But  as  my  mind  cannot-  have  a  view  of  all  ob« 
je£ts  with  equal  clearnefs  and  attention,  at  one 
and  the  fame  time,  but  different  obje&s,  are 


ICO 

mo  oprc^M 

more  particularly  to  n  eft, 

1  natural 

ami  *ng 

to  t'  lev    and  works    of  Chnlt, 

and  >  glOI7  an(^  happinef*  01 

cms  to  be  pi 
that  I  am  a  friend  to   thefc    objects  :  but  I  am 
not  able  I  at  any  time,  to  fee  the  truth  of 

this  confequence  with  clearness  and  certainty. 
When  theclearnefs  and  fenfibility  of  thefe  vie 
and  exercifes  in  a  meafure  fubfide,  and  I  attejid 
more  to  my  own  character  ;  and  my  depravity, 
ftupidity,  unbelief,  and  the  evil  and  deceitfulnefs 
of  my  heart  rife  into  view,  I  am  difpofed  to  call 
in  queftion  my  own  good  eftate,  and  to  fufj 
that  my  exercifes  fall  fhort  of  real  chriftianity  : 
yet  maintaining  a  hope  that  this  is  not  the  cafe, 
which  is  fometim  and  fometimes  ftron^- 

er  •,  and,  frequently  for  a  fhort  fpace,  rifes  fo 
high  as  to  exclude  doubting  :  but  even  then, 
though  this  excites  gratitude,  it  does  not  raife 
my  comfort  and  joy  to  that  degree,  as  doeb 
Jireft  view  of  the  character  of  Chrift  and  his 
kingdom,  above-mentioned,    without    ft 

iar  attention  to  my  own  character  and  per- 
fonal  intereft.     When  my  doubts  and  fears  p 
molt,    refpecting    my    perfonal    union    to 
'ft,  and  I  attend  particularly  to  my  perfonal 
:crns  and  intereft,  it  appears,  when  cor.: 


LIFE  OF 


ereB  by  itfelf  to  be  beyond  all  conception,  and 
initely  great,  which  I  feel  to  be  wholly  in  the 
ds  of  Chrift,  to  be  determined  by  him  wheth- 
er I  ihall  be  happy  or  miferable  forever.     And 
is  fo  far  from  being  difagreeable  to  me,  that 
I  am  highly  pleafed  with  it,  and  would  not  have 
;:herwife  on  any  confideration  whatever.     I 
I  that  I  am  in  the  belt  hands,  and,  in  this  re- 
-l,    in    the   belt    fituation,    that   I   poffibly 
could  be  in.     He  certainly  will  not  injure  me 
in  any  refpeft,  or  in  the  leaft  degree.     He  is  in- 
:ely  wife,    good  and  merciful,    and  knows 
what  is  molt  for  his  own  glory,  and  the  higheft 
good  and  happinefs  of  his  kingdom  ;  and,  can 
and  will  certainly  fave  me  and  every  one  elfe 
with  whom  I  have  any  connection,  if  it  may  be 
I  confident  with  his  glory  and  the  greateft  happi- 
nefs of  his  kingdom,  or  confident  with   wifdom 
and  goodnefs,  which  is  the  fame  :     And  I  can- 
not fo  much  as  wi(h   or  have  the  leaft  defire  to 
be  faved  on  any  other  fuppofition  \  that  is,  if 
this  be  inconfiftent  with   infinite   wifdom    and 
goodnefs,  and  contrary  to  the  greateft  good  and 
glory  of  Chrift  and  his  kingdom  :  and   feel  that 
it  would  be  awful  impiety  and  rebellion  to  afk 
for  falvation  on  any  other  fuppofition. 

But  when  I  refle£l  on  the  dreadfulnefs  of  being 
caft  away  for  ever  by  Chrift,  to  fufrer  the  juft 
defert  of  my  fins,  feeling  the  ftrokes  and  tokens 
of  his  righteous  anger  and  vengeance  \  and  being 


SAMUEL  HOPKINS.  1  I  1 

given  up  to  evil  lulls  to  join  with  the  devil  and 
exift  eternally  on  his  fide  an  enemy  to  Chrift  and 
his  kingdom,  my  foul  recoils,  and  feels  .this  to 
be  intolerable  !  then  I  fly  to  Chrift  and  his  atone- 
ment, and  call  myfelf  down  at  his  feet,  to  dif- 
pofe  of  me  as  he  pleafes  ;  yet  hoping  and  crying 
for  mercy,  Oh  !  be  merciful  to  me  a  finner. 
Which  is  accompanied  with  a  number  of  various 
exercifes  which  cannot  be  eafily  defcribed. 

And  when  I  reflecl  on  thefe  exercifes  they  ap- 
pear to  me  to  be  confident  with  chriflianity,  and 
an  evidence  of  real  friendfhip  to  Chrift  :  and  I 
am  fenfible  that  if  another  perfon  mould  relate  to 
me  fuch  views  and  exercifes  as  experienced  by 
him,  I  mould  think  them  an  evidence  that  he 
was  a  real  chriftian.  Yet  I  often  greatly  doubt 
of  my  being  a  true  chriftian;  efpecially  when  I 
have  ibme  more  clear  view  and  fenfe  of  my  bar- 
ren and  finful  life,  and  attend  particularly  to 
that. 

Thefe  are  feme  of  my  daily  various  exercifes, 
in  ail  which  I  maintain  a  hope  that  I  am 

a  chriftian,  which  fometime3  excludes  all  doubt, 
being  conftantly  afiured  of  the  truth  of  the  gof- 
pel,  that  this  is  a  revelation  of  the  only  true  Go^ 
and  of  eternal  life  ;  and,  that  the  truths  which  I 
have  preached  as  contained  in  the  gofpel,  are  in- 
deed the  truths  of  God,  and  fuincient  to  fup- 
port  and  comfort  a  chriftian  in  the  near  view  of 


112  LIFE  OF 

-death  and  eternity,  and  under  all  the  affli&ions 
of  this  life.  And  I  live  in  the  conftant  aflurance 
of  the  truth  of  the  doftrine  of  the  decrees  of 
God,  and  of  his  univerfal  and  particular  provi- 
dence directing  every  event,  and  every  thing 
which .  comes  to  pafs,  and  exercifing  abfolute 
fovereignty  in  his  dealing  with  men  ;  without 
which  I  could  have  no  fupport  and  comfort.  And 
my  chief  comfort  and  joy,  does  not  confift  in  or 
ariie  from  an  aflurance  or  hope  that  I  (hall  be 
faved  ;  but  in  a  view  and  fenfe  of  the  perfections 
and  glory  of  Chrift,  his  power,  wifdom  and 
goodnefs,  reigning  and  ordering  all  things  for 
the  glory  of  God  and  the  greatefl  good  of  his 
kingdom.  And  this  is  accompanied  with  an  ex- 
perimental affurance,  that  the  exercifes  of  true 
religion  are  wholly  difinterefted,  and  in  dire£t 
oppofition  to  all  felfifhnefs  :  a  doctrine  which  I 
have  endeavoured  to  maintain  and  inculcate  for 
many  years. 

When  I  was  firft  taken  with  this  diforder,  and 
for  moft  of  the  time  fince,  I  have  had  little  or 
no  fenfible  defire  of  recovering,  and  was  not  in- 
clined lb  much  as  to  afk  for  it  ;  my  mind  rather 
reluftated  at  the  thought  of  recovering  fo   as  to 

f^fcach  after  the  poor    dull  way  in  which  I  had 
itherto    preached,  and  with   as  little  fuccefs. 
But  God  has  been  pleafed  to  recover  me,  fo  that 
I  have  been  able    to  attend   public  worfhip  and 
xh  for  feveral  months  pad ,  and,  I  do  not 


SAMUEL  HOPKINS.  I  IJ 

feel  that  preaching  hurts  me,  or  aggravates  my 
diforder ;  which  encourages  me  to  proceed  :  but 
with  many  and  great  difcouragements  from  my 
own  great  deficiencies,  and  the  want  of  a  proper 
attention,  apparent  in  the  congregation  in  gene- 
ral. But  Chriit  will  anfwer  his  own  ends  by 
me,  and  continue  me  in  the  world,  and  take 
me  out  of  it  in  the  bed  time  and  manner,  fo  as 
bed  to  anfwer  thefe  ends  :  and  in  this  I  daily  ac- 
quiefce  and  rejoice.     Amen  ! 

January  10,  1800.  As  I  think  it  may  be  life- 
ful  particularly  to  attend  to,  and  record  thofe  ex- 
ercifes,  which  appear  to  me  to  be  an  evidence 
that  I  am  a  real  chriftian,  and  at  times,  r.re  faf- 
isfadtory  and  remove  all  doubt,  when  they  are 
more  ftrong  and  fenfible,  and  I  refledt  upon, 
them  with  more  particular  attention^  and  thejr 
appear  real  and  certain. — And,  on  the  contrary, 
mention  and  defcribe  thofe  things  which  I  find 
in  myfelf  which  appear  againft  me  as  evidences 
that  I  am  not  a  chriftian,  and  fometimes  are  the 
ground  of  ftrong  fufpicion  and  doubt  whether  I 
am  a  real  friend  to  Chrift, 

The  former  of  thefe  may  be  reprefented  in  the 
following  particulars. 

1 
1 .  I  have  been  fo  far  convinced  of  my  fins  and 

reproved  for  them,  that  I  know  that  I  am  infi- 
nitely guilty,  and  deferve  eternal  deftruction  and 
k  % 


114  £IFE  OF 

mifery  :  that  God  would  be  juft,  and  I  fliould 
have  no  reafon  to  complain,  if  he  fhould  punifli 
me  forever,  with  aggravated  torments.  This 
convidiicn  is  abiding  and  increafing,  v/hile  I 
heartily  approve  of  the  law  of  God  which  curfes 
the  tranfgreflbr,  as  holy  juft  and  good.  This 
conviction  and  fenfe  of  the  evil  of  fin,  and  of 
my  depravity  and  finfulnefs,  rifes  much  higher 
fometimes  than  others  ;  but  I  am  never  difpofed 
to  caft  it  off  or  doubt  the  truth  of  it,  but  it  is 
fixed  on  my  mind,  and  when  I  have  the  greateft 
fenfe  of  it,  I  know  that  I  fee  but  little  of  what 
It  really  is  in  the  fight  of  God,  that  the  num- 
ber of  my  fins  and  the  magnitude  and  aggrava- 
tions  of  each  one  are  infinitely  beyond  my  com- 
prehenfion,  and  are  known  perfectly  to  God 
alone.  That  I  am  wholly  and  beyond  exprenion 
depraved  and  finful  naturally,  being  infinitely  far 
from  any  moral  goodnefs  to  recommend  me  to 
the  mercy  and  favour  of  God :  and  that  if  my 
I  heart  be  changed  fo  as  to  exercife  holinefs  in  any 
degree,  yet  this  is  fo  defective,  and  attended 
with  fo  much  moral  defilement  and  fin,  that  all 
taken  together,  it  is  worfe  than  nothing,  and  af- 
fords matter  of  condemnation,  and  is  infinitely 
far  from  deferving  any  good  or  favour.  And  if 
j^hvere  wholly  recovered  from  my  depravity  and 
were  made  perfe£Uy  holy,  this  would  be  lb  in- 
finitely overbalanced  by  the  guilt  of  my  fins,  that 
it  could  not  be  reckoned  in  my  favour,  fo  as  to 
procure  die  pardon  of  my  fin^  or  render  me  de- 


SAMUEL  HOPKINS.  I  %$ 

ferving  of  any  good  thing.  I  have '  a  conftant 
and  growing  conviction  that  I  am  wholly  de- 
pendant on  the  preventing,  fovereign  grace  of 
God  for  my  recovery,  from  this  miferable,  loft 
ftate  of  infinite  guilt  and  total  depravity,  and  for 
the  lead  degree  of  fmcerity  and  faith  or  conformi- 
ty to  the  law  of  God  ;  that  I  am  wholly  loft, 
and  (hall  fink  down  to  hell  an  enemy  to  God  and 
all  good,  and  juftly  perifh  forever,  unlefs  Chrift, 
by  his  fovereign  goodnefs,  cloathed  with  omnipo- 
tence and  infinite  wifdom,  fhall  recover  and  fave 
me,  while  I  fhall  not  do  any  thing  towards  my 
falvation,  or  make  the  leaft  exertion  for  it ;  but 
all  that  I  will  and  do  is  contrary  to  it,  unlefs  and 
no  farther  than  he  fhall  work  in  me  to  will  and 
to  do,  of  his  fovereign  good  pleafure,  what  he 
requires  as  heeeffary  to  my  falvation.  Thus  I 
feel  myfelf  to  be  an  infinitely  guilty,  odious  * 
creature,  utterly  undone  in  myfelf,  and  have  not 
a  word  to  fay,  and  have  not  a  thought  in  my  fa- 
vour ;  my  mouth  is  flopped  in  this  refpec~t,  and  I 
I  am  guilty  before  God,  and  accept  the  punifh- 
mentof  my  iniquity. 

If  this  which  I  have  imperfectly  defcribed  im- 
plies the  eflentials  of  real  repentance,  in  which 
I  humble  myfelf  in  the  fight  of  the  Lord,  with 
a  broken  and  contrite  heart,  then  I  have  a  new  • 
heart  and  am  interefted  in  the  divine  prornifcs. — 
But  if  not, — Then  I  have  never  yet  underftood 
the  true  meaning  of  thefe  words  of  fcripture, 


l\6  LIFE  OF 

and  my  eyes  are  yet  blinded  with  regard  to  my 
own  character  ! 

2.  I  think  I  do  moft  heartily  approve  of,  and 
acquiefce  in  the  perfon  and  character  of  Chrift, 
and  am  pleafed  with  the  way  of  falvation  of  fin- 
ners  by  him.  All  his  directions,  exhortations, 
commands,  doctrines  which  he  taught,  all  that 
he  faid,  did  and  fuffered,  and  all  his  revealed 
purpofes  and  defigns,  appear  wife,  good  and  ex- 
cellent, and  carry  clear  marks  and  abundant  evi- 
dence of  divinity  in  them.     Hence 

3.  I  do,  I  think,  place  all  my  hope  in  him, 
and  defire  not  to  be  found  and  accepted  in  any 
righteoufnefs  of  my  own,  were  this  poffible ; 
but  to  be  pardoned  and  juftified  by  the  merit  and 
righteoufnefs  of  Chrift.  I  am  fenfibly  and  great- 
ly pleafed  with  being  wholly  dependant  on  him 
for  righteoufnefs,  fan£tification,  and  compleat 
redemption.  If  there  were  any  other  poffible 
way  of  falvation,  which  I  know  there  is  not,  I 
would  reje£t  it,  not  defiring  to  be  faved  in  any 
Way  but  that  which  is  revealed  in  the  gofpel. 

4.  I  think  I  defire  and  feek  the  glory  of  God 
and  the  greateft  good  and  happinefs  of  the  uni- 
verfe,  as  my  higheft  and  ultimate  end  ;  and  in 
this  view  am  pleafed  with  and  rejoice  in  the 
chara£fc%r  and  defigns  of  God  and  Chrift,  who 
is  doing  every  thing  for  this  end,  and  will  ac- 
eomplifh  it  in  the  moft  perfect  manner,  and  in  the 


1 


SAMUEL  HOPKINS.  I  I  7 

higheft  poffiHe  d^He.  And  on  this  account  I 
am  highly  pleafed  with  Chrift  and  the  gofpel, 
as  by  the  redemption  of  man  by  Chrift,  God  is 
glorified  in  an  eminent  degree,  and  the  greateffc 
happinefs  of  creatures  promoted  and  effe£ted. 
And  for  this  reafon  I  acquiefce  in  it  that  all  of 
the  human  race  fhould  not  be  faved,  but  a  part 
of  them  perifh  forever  in  their  fins,  as  divine 
revelation  has  declared  ;  becaufe  I  know  this  is 
necefiary  for  the  glory  of  God,  and  the  great 
good  of  his  eternal  kingdom,  and  not  one  will 
be  loft  forever,  who  could  be  faved  confiftently 
with  this ;  and  therefore  all  will  be  faved  who 
can  be  faved  confiftently  with  infinite  wifdom  and 
goodnefs.     Therefore 

5.  I  am  moft  fatisfied  and  pleafed,  when  I 
have  the  moft  clear  and  feeling  fenfe  of  my  being 
in  the  hands  of  Chrift  in  the  moft  perfedl  and 
abfolute  fenfe  and  degree,  and  wholly  at  his  dif- 
pofal  in  time  and  to  eternity  ;  knowing  that  he 
will  do  with  and  by  me  what  is  moft  for  his  glory 
and  the  good  of  his  kingdom  ;  and  that  he  will 
fave  me,  if  he  can  do  it  confiftently  with  this  ; 
and  this  is  all  that  I  can  defire.  Therefore  I  am 
well  pleafed  with  being  in  his  hands  and  wholly 
at  his  difpofal,  let  him  do  what  he  will  with  me, 
and  cannot  conceive  of  a  better  and  more  defina- 
ble fituation  :  yea,  I  know  there  cannot  be  a 
better. 

When  I  reflect  on  the  feelings  and  exercifes  ex- 


1 1  8  LIFE  OF 

prefTed  in  the  two  laft  partic  J^R  they  feem  to  me 
to  be  the  expreflion  of  true  'difmtereiied  benevo- 
lence, or  that  love  by  which  we  are  formed  after 
the  likenefs  of  God,  and  he  dwelleth  in  us,  and 
we  in  him.  The  reafon  of  my  doubting  of  this, 
efpecially  at  times,  has  been  in  fome  meafure 
fuggefted  before,  and  v/iiL  be  more  fully  ex- 
preffed  in  the  fequel. 

6.  I  think  I  do  hunger  and  third  after  righte- 
oufnefs.  My  longing  to  be  perfe£Uy  holy  is, 
fometimes,  very  fenfihle  and  ftrong,  exceeding  ail 
defires  of  earthly  things  that  I  have,  or  of  which  I 
am  capable.  I  have  often,  felt  willing  and  a  de- 
fire  to  die  immediately,  if  this  might  bring  me 
to  perfe£t  holinefs,  to  a  complete  conformity  to 
Chrift. 

7.  I  feel  my  heart  ftrongly  united  to  thofe 
whom  I  confider  to  be  real  friends  to  Chrift,  in 
benevolent  and  complacential  love  ;  efpecially 
thofe  with  whom  I  am  more  particularly  and  in- 
timately acquainted.  I  have  a  quite  difFerent 
feeling  toward  them  from  that  which  I  have 
toward  others,  and  have  a  peculiar  delight  in 
their  company  and  converfation. 

8.  My  preaching  and  converfation  has 
been  gehef-ally  acceptable  and  pleafing  to  thofe 
whom  I  have  efteemed  the  moft  judicious  and 
beft  chrift  ians,  fo  far  as  I  have  been  able  to  learn. 


SAMUEL  HOPKINS.  I  T9 

I  have  not  only  preached  the  doctrines  which  I 
verily  believed  to  be  true,  but  heartily  approved 
of  them,  and  have  delivered  thofe  truths  of  the 
word  of  God  refpedting  practical  and  experi- 
mental religion,  which  were  the  dictates  of  my 
heart,  and  often,  if  not  commonly,  fuggeited 
by  my  own  feelings  and  exercifes  ;  and  have  not 
endeavoured  to  appear  better  or  in  a  more  agreea- 
ble light,  than  was  agreeable  to  the  truth,  though 
I  am  fenfible  that  my  christian  friends,  have  in 
many  inftances  and  refpects,  thought  too  highly 
of  me,  which  has  been  matter  of  fhame  and 
humiliation  to  me  •,  yet  their  love  and  efteem,  I 
have  been  ready  to  confider  as  an  evidence  in  my 
favour,  though  of  little  weight  confidered  by  it- 
felf,  as  we  know  not  each  others  hearts,  and  are 
liable  to  be  greatly  deceived  in  others.  I  there- 
fore mention  this  as  coinciding  with,  and  in 
fome  meafure  ftrengthening  the  evidences  which 
have  been  mentioned.  This  is  at  leaft  an  evi- 
dence that  what  appears  in  my  preaching,  con- 
verfation  and  external  conduct,  which,  fo  far 
as  I  know,  is  in  general  agreeable  to  my  heart, 
at  leaft  I  do  net  on  defign  attempt  to  play  the 
hypocrite,  is  to  judicious  chriftians,  who  are 
moit  acquainted  with  me,  an  evidence  that  I  am 
a  real  chriftun. 

I  proceed  to  mention  fome  things  which  ap- 
pear to  me,  at  times  at  leaft,  reafon  of  fear  that  > 
I  never  have  known  what  it  is  to  be  a  real  chrif- 


120  LIFE  OF 

tian,  and  are  at  times,  if  not  generally  the  ca*ufe 
of  many  doubts. 

I.  My  ftupidity  and  hardnefs  of  heart,  with 
refpe£t  to  things  divine  and  invifible,  or  the  truths 
exhibited  in  the  goipel.  At  times,  and  I  believe 
I  may  fay  generally,  I  have  very  little  or  no  fenfe 
of  thefe  things,  and  they  make  very  little  im- 
predion  on  my  heart,  if  any  ;  and  I  often  feel  as 
if  they  had  no  exiftence,  while  in  my  reafon  and 
judgment  I  have  no  doubt  of  their  truth  and 
reality  :  And  when  I  have  fome  fenfe  of  the 
truth,  reality  and  excellence  of  them,  and  even 
when  I  have  the  greatefl  fenfe  and  the  molt  af- 
fe£Hng  view  and  impreffion  of  them  on  my  heart, 
and  I  am  moft  ftrongly  and  deeply  affe&ed  with 
them,  I  am  fenfible  that  the  view  and  fenfe  I  have 
is  very  imperfeft  and  unfpeakably  fhort  of  the 
truth,  and  of  what  I  ought  to  have,  and  even 
the  greateft  impreffion,  and  higheft  affe£lion 
that  I  at  any  time  experience,  commonly  foon 
abate  and  fubfide,  and  I  am  left  as  ftupid  and 
fenfelefs  as  ever  :  and  what  I  thought  I  had  ex- 
perienced feems  like  a  dream,  and  as  if,  it  was 
not  a  reality.  This  ftupidity  and  fenfeleflhefs  is 
commonly  moft  fenfible  and  burdenfome  in  my 
public  performances  of  prayer  and  preaching  $ 
and  even  when  I  have  freedom  of  fpeech  and  a 
flow  of  words,  and  my  chriftian  friends  have 
thought  I  was  great' y  affifted,  I  have  been  con- 
scious of  my  great  and  fhameful  ftupidity  and 


SAMUEL  HOPKINS.  121 

want  of  a  proper  fenfe  of  the  things  of  which  I 
have  been  fpeaking.  This,  which  is  more  of 
lefs  fenfibly  felt,  is  my  conftant  attendant,  and 
the  grief  and  burden  of  my  heart,  and  matter 
of  my  conltant  confeflions  and  prayer  to  God  for 
deliverance  from  it ;  being  always  fenfibly  con- 
vinced that  no  external  light  and  advantages,  or 
any  means  ufed,  will  in  the  leaft  remove  this 
ftupidity  and  hardnefs  of  heart  ;  but  that  the 
fpirit  of  God  alone  can  remove  it,  and  give  me 
that  fpiritual  fenfibility  and  feeling  of  heart, 
which  I  feem  moll  earneftly  to  defire.  I  confider 
this  ftupidity,  blindnefs  and  infenfibility  of  heart 
to  divine  things,  to  be  altogether,  and  infinitely 
criminal,  as  it  mufl  be  owing  to  the  moral  cor- 
ruption and  depravity  of  my  heart,  or  rather  con- 
fift  wholly  in  depravity  and  wickednefs  of  heart, 
being  hardened,  contracted  and  bound  up  in  felf- 
ilhnefs  and  pride,  and  all  the  evil  propenfities 
which  are  implied  in  thefe.  This  is  unbelief  of 
hearty  which  is  confident  with  a  conviction  of  the 
reafonand  judgment,  of  the  truths  contained  in  the 
gofpel  ;  for  no  degree  of  fuch  conviclion  will  in 
the  leaft  remove  this  blindnefs,  hardnefs  and 
unbelief  oi  heart,  which  I  am  confidering.  But 
blindnefs  and  unbelief  of  heart  have  a  ftrong 
tendency  to  prevent  or  remove  a  convi&ion  of  the 
judgment  and  confcience  of  the  truth  and  reality 
of  invifible  things,  and  to  promote  fpeculative 
unbelief  oi  them  ;  and,  are  the  real  and  only 
ground  of  all  deifm  and  atheifm,  and  all  fpecu* 
h 


122  -  LIFE  Of 

lative  infidelity.  This  gives  fatan  great  advant- 
age to  blind  the  minds  of  them  who  believe  not, 
and  lead  them  captives  to  infidelity,  which  he 
improves  to  the  utmoft  of  his  power. 

I.  do  not  fenfibly  perceive  the  real  ground  and 
reafon  of  this  darknefs  and  ftupidity  of  my  mind 
with  refpeft  to  invifible  things,  but  am  moll 
fenfible  of  the  fadl,  while  the  caufe  of  this  la- 
mentable fa£t  is  out  of  fight,  and  is  rather  the 
object  of  reafon  and  fpeculation.  This  blind- 
...eisand  ftupidity  of  heart  are  fo  fenfible  and 
appear  fo  great  to  me,  efpecially  at  times,  that 
I  much  doubt  whether  it  be  confident  with  the 
true  knowledge  of  God,  or  my  having  any  real 
chriftian  light  and  difcerning,  which  Chrift  calls 
«  the  light  of  life,"  which  he  gives  to  all  his  true 
followers.  Yet  I  know  that  when  I  hear  pro- 
fefling  chriftians  complain  of  their  ftupidity  and 
blindnefs,-  &c.  I  do  not  confider  this  as  an  evi- 
dence that  they  are  not  chriftians,  but  rather  in 
their  favour,  as  a  fign  that  they  have  a  fenfibility 
and  difcerning  refpeding  their  own  hearts,  which 
is  peculiar  to  chriftians.  But  it  is  not  eafy  for 
me  to  apply  this  to  myfelf,  and  draw  fuch  a  con-^ 
fequence  in  my  own  favour.  I  am  apt  to  con- 
fider my  blindnefs  and  ftupidity  not  to  be  like 
that  of  others,  but  greater  and  peculiar  to  my- 
felf. 

2.    My  life  and    converfation,  all  taken  to- 


SAMUEL  HOPKINS.  I  23 

gether,  both  external  and  interna!,  appear  very 
much  againft  me,  and  fo  deftitute  of  any  good 
fruit,  and  fo  full  of  deformity  and  fin  both  of 
omiffion  and  commiffion,  that  I  know  not  how  to 
reconcile  it  with  the  life  of  a  chriftian,  efpecially 
at  fome  times,  when  I  have  a  view  of  it  as  a  molt 
deformed  and  odious  life,  confidering  the  many 
and  peculiar  advantages  and  opportunities  I  have 
had,  and  my  great  obligations  to  live  a  holy  life, 
wholly  devoted  to  Chrift  ;  all  which  I  have  abufed 
in  a  greater  or  lefs  degree  continually.  Though 
I  dare  not  fay  I  have  not  been,  and  am  not  in 
any  degree  fincere  in  my  regard  to  Chrift  and 
the  truths  of  the  gofpel  ;  and  have  a  hope  that 
I  have  had  and  now  have  fome  fincerity :  Yet 
I  cannot  look  back  upon  a  well  /pent  life,  for  it 
appears  unfpeakably  far  from  fuch  an  one.  I 
have  often  laid,  "  I  will  b%wife,"  but  it  has 
been  far  from  me.  I  cannot  view  myfelf  as  a 
good and faithful '(errant  of  Jefus  Chrift,  but  much 
to  the  contrary  ;  and  therefore  cannot  ra^Jize  lh 
cr  even  conceive  how  he  can  view  and  call  me 
fuch  an  one,  as^re  reprefents  that  he  will  do  all 
who  fhall  be  owned  by  him  at  the  laft  day. 
This  is  often  caufe  of  great  doubts,  and  fears 
that  I  am  not  a  real  fervant  of  Jefus  Chrift.  I 
know  he  will  own  and  accept  of  the  lead  thing 
done  for  him  from  a  true  regard  to  him,  but  I 
feel  that  I  have  nothing  that  I  have  done  to  plead 
in  my  favour. 


124  LIFE  O? 

3.  It  has  been  matter  of  doubt  and  difcour- 
agement  to  mc,  that  I  have  little  or  no  fuccefs 
by  my  preaching,  in  being  made  the  inftrument 
of  awakening  and  converting  finners.  But  very 
few  inftances  of  this  have  come  to  my  knowl- 
edge^ and  thefe  not  very  remarkable  and  clear. 
I  came  upon  the  ftage  and  began  to  preach  when 
there  was  a  great  and  general  revival  of  religion 
in  New-England  ;  many  were  awakened,  and 
thought  to  be  converted,  and  many  minifters 
were  fuccefsful  in  this,  and  had  great  revivals  in 
their  congregations  :  but  no  fuch  thing  has  ap- 
peared under  my  preaching,  though  fome,  indi- 
viduals have  fometimes  appeared  to  be  in  fome 
degree  awakened.  I  fhoufd  expect  that  a  good 
minifter  of  Chriit  would  be  fucceeded  in  this 
refpeft  efpecially  when  others  round  about  him 
were  fuccefsful,  more  than  I  have  appeared  to 
be.  This  has  led  me  to  fear,  eip ecially  at  times, 
that  there  is  fome  eiTential  defect  in  me,  and 
that  Urad  not  the  true  fpirit  of  Chrift,  and  his 
realprefence  and  approbation.  I  do  not  think  I 
havgfeafon  to  conclude  that  myminiftrations  in 
preaching,  writing  and  conversation  have  been 
altogether  ufelefs  and  unprofitable.  They  have 
been  acceptable  to  many,  if  not  to  all,  who  have 
appeared  to  be  chriftians,  efpecially  to  the  mod 
attentive,  engaged  and  judicious  ;  and  many 
have  thought  themfelves  greatly  inftru&ed, 
ftrengthened  and  comforted  by  them  ;  and  my 
ufefulnefs,  if  there  has  been  any,  has  not  con- 


SAMUEL  HOPKINS.  1 2$ 

lifted  in  being  the  mean  of  convincing  and  con- 
verting finners  ;  but  chiefly  in  miniitering  to  the 
faints  and  building  them  up  in  faith  and  holinefs  : 
and  I  believe  my  publications  have  been  the 
means  of  fpreading  light  with  refpecl  to  fome 
important  do£trines  of  chriftianity.  This  I  con- 
fider  as  matter  of  thankfulnefs  m,  but,  it  does  not 
wholly  remove  my  gloom  and  doubts,  which 
arife  from  the  inefficacy  of  my  preaching,  with 
refpe£t  to  finners  ;  and  when  I  attend  to  the 
great  and  fhameful  defeats  and  poornefs  of  my 
preaching,  and  the  little  fenfe  I  have  of  what  I 
do  fay,  &c.  together  with  want  of  fuccefs,  I 
don't  wonder  my  preaching  is  without  effect,  and 
my  doubts  of  my  having  any  true  grace  are  in- 
creafed. 

Thus  I  have  endeavoured  to  ftate  thofe  things 
which  appear  to  be  evidences  in  favour  of  mv 
being  a  real  chriftian,  and  thofe  which,  on  the 
contrary,  appear  to  be  evidences  againft  it. 
There  are  many  other  things,  which,  iflPthem- 
felves  perhaps,  are  of  lefs  weight,  but  when 
confidered  with*  thofe  mentioned  both  for  and  a-  * 
gainft  me,  fometimes  have  confiderable  influence 
on  my  mind  to  increafe  my  hopes  or  fears  :  but 
as  they  are  not  eafily  defcribed  ;  and  are  in  feme 
meafure  included  in  the  above  particulars,  I  pafs 
them  over  without  a  more  particular  mention. 

When  I  have  only  or  chiefly  zfpeculativevv&ti 
h  2 


126  LIFE  OF 

of  all  thefe  things  which  have  been  mentioned, 
and  more,  both  for  and  againft  me,  and  they 
are  feldom  out  of  my  thoughts  ;  the  whole  taken 
together  to  my  reafon  and  judgment  appear  to  be 
rather  in  my  favour,  and  ground  of  hope  that  I 
am  what  I  profefs  to  be,  a  real  chriftian.  But 
this  fpeculative  view,  without  any  great  degree 
of  fenfe  of  heart,  is  not  attended  with  any  com- 
fortable affurance,  or  fenfible  enjoyment,  as  this 
confifts  in  a  fenfe  of  heart  of  the  truth  and  excel- 
lency of  the  things  of  the  gofpel,  which  is 
entirely  different  from  the  cleareft  fpeculative 
view  of  them.  This  fenfe  of  heart  is  various, 
fometimes  in  a  greater,  and  fome  times  in  a  lefs 
degree,  and  fome  times  has  a  particular  object 
in  view,  and  at  other  times  another  object  is 
more  in  view  and  makes  the  greateft  impreflion, 
and  the  heart  cannot  be  equally  fenfible  of  all 
objects  at  once,  or  one  muft  be  more  in  view 
than  another. 

This  is  agreeable  to  my  experience.  When  I 
have  an  impreffive  and  affe&ing  fenfe  of  heart 
©f  the  truths  of  the  gofpel,  and  thofe  fenfible 
'  views  and  exercifes  which  have  been  mentioned 
as  evidences  in  my  favour,  and  my  attention  is 
fixed  on  thofe  objects,  my  doubts  vahifh,  and  I 
think  little  or  nothing  of  myfelf,  and  my  own 
character  :  but  the  objects  viewed  engrofs  my 
attention.  But  when  I  reflect  on  my  prefent 
exercifes,  my  hope  revives  and  is  ftrengthened  \ 


SAMUEL  HOPKINS.  1 27 

but  I  have  great  comfort  and  enjoyment  inde- 
pendent of  my  hope,  and  while  my  own  ftate  is 
not  attended  to.  Indeed  my  comfort  and  enjoy- 
ment are  previous  to  the  revival  of  my  hope,  and 
the  ground  of  it.  For  inftance,  when  I  have 
an  affc&ing  view  and  fenfe  of  heart  of  the  glo- 
rious character  of  Chrift,  his  works  and  defigns^ 
his  exaltation  and  dominion,  &c.  this  is  attend- 
ed with  a  fenfible,  fweet  approbation  of  heart  of 
all  that  is  feen  and  that  relates  to  him,  and 
gives  high  fatisfa&ion  and  enjoyment,  when  this 
view  and  fenfe,  approbation  and  delight,  &c.  are 
reflected  upon,  be  it  fooner  or  later  :  and  while 
thefe  fenfible  views  and  exercifes  continue  and 
do  not  fubfide,  my  hope  of  my  intereft  in  thefe 
things  revives,  and  my  doubts  vanifh  :  and 
often,  if  not  always,  this  reflexion  is  fo  imme- 
diate, that  it  feems  to  attend  thefe  views,  exerci- 
fes and  enjoyments,  and  to  be  fo  connected  with 
and  implied  in  them,  that  I  do  not  diitisguiih 
one  from  the  other  in  my  own  feelings,  but  the 
hope  and  even  affurance  of  my  intereft  in  Chrift 
feems  to  be  intuitive  and  I  am  not  confcious  that 
it  is  by  refle&ion. 

But  when  my  fenfible  exercifes  towards  thefe 
afFe&ing  objects,  and  my  attention  to  them  in 
fome  meafure  fubfide,  and  thofe  things  which 
have  been  mentioned  as  evidences  againft  me 
are  more  clearly  in  my  view,  which  of  courfe 
will  be  the    cafe>    and  are  the  obje&s  of  my 


128  LIFE  OF 

particular  and  painful  attention,  they  preponder- 
ate in  the  fcale  of  my  mind,  and  doubts  arife, 
and  fome  times  greatly  prevail  ;  and,  I  queftion 
the  truth  and  reality  of  my  former  views  and 
cxcrcifesf  or  that  they  were  truly  gracious,  and 
they  appear  rather  as  a  dream  than  a  reality. 

Thus  my  mind  fludtuates,  and  paries  from 
one  objefl  to  another,  and  has  foinetimes  more 
clear  and  fenfible  views  of  one  object  than  of 
another,  and  is  more  imprefled  and  affected  with 
it :  and  then  the  other  has  its  turn  of  attracting 
my  fenfible  attention,  and  the  former  goes  more, 
if  not  wholly,  out  of  view  for  a  time.  And  I 
believe  a  chriftian  cannot  live  without  doubts  of 
his  good  eftate,  and  maintain  a  well  grounded 
uninterrupted  confidence  and  aflurance  that  he 
is  a  chriftian,  unlefshe  lives  in  a  view  and  fenfe 
of  divine  truth,  and  in  the  exercife  of  chriftian 
grace.  I  am  in  fome  meafure  fenfible  that  it  is 
wholly  my  fault  that  I  do  not  live  fo,  in  fuch 
conftant  view  and  fenfe  of  divine  truth  and  high 
exercife  of  conftant  love  toChrift,  and  faith  in 
and  devotednefs  to  him,  which  would  exclude 
all  doubts  of  my  intereft  in  him,  and  be  attend- 
ed with  an  aflurance  that  I  have  the  fpirit  of 
Chrift.  And  I  defire  no  other  evidence  of  my 
intereft  in  Chrift  but  this  ;  or,  to  be  allured  of 
my  good  eftate  in  any  other  way,  but  in  the 
lively  exercife  of  true  grace.  I  have  been  ac- 
quainted with  fome  profefling  chriftians,  who 


SAMUEL  HOPKINS,  1 2£ 

have  declared  that  they  have  lived  many  years 
without  a  doubt  of  their  good  eftate,  and  they 
were  conftantly  affured  that  they  were  interefted 
in  Chrift  and  fhould  be  faved,  who  did  not 
appear  to  me  to  have  any  folemn  conftant  fenfe 
of  the  truths  of  chriftianity,  or  to  live  anfwer- 
able  to  fuch  a  profefiion  ;  and  therefore  am 
difpofed  to  think  they  are  deluded,  and  mofi 
probably  have  no  grace  at  all. 

There  are  others,  who  appear  to  be  real,  and 
fome  of  them  excellent  chriftians  by  their  life 
and  converfation,  who  appear  never  to  call  in 
queftion  or  doubt  their  having  true  grace  ;  but 
fome  how  always  take  it  for  granted  as  a  fettled 
point  that  they  are  chriftians  :  while  there  are 
others  who  appear  to  be  as  good  and  eminent 
chriftians  as  the  former,  who  have  many  doubts, 
efpecially  at  times,  of  their  being  real  chriftians^ 
and  never  fpeak  of  their  being  fuch  with  that 
confidence  as  the  former  do,  nor  without  an  if, 
or  fome  hesitation.  Thefe  may,  perhaps,  both 
be  equally  good  chriftians,  and  have  equally 
ftrong  and  high  exercifes  of  grace  at  times,  and 
their  difference  above  mentioned  may  »be  owing 
to  their  different  natural  temper,  or  education, 
or  the  different  public  inftruaion  they  have 
lived  under,  or  to  the  circumftances  and  manner 
of  their  firft  difcoveries  of  divine  truth,  and 
peculiar  impreflions  and  exercifes  when  they 
were   converted  or  afterwards,  or  from  fome- 


I30  LIFE  OF 

thing  elfe  which  is  not  known  to  them  or  to  us. 
But  it  is  probable  they  are  both  in  fome  degree 
wrong  in  two  oppofite  extremes.  The  former 
being  habituated  to  confider  themfelves  to  be 
chrittians  without  having  the  prefent  evidence  of 
it  in  their  own  minds  by  the  fenfible  exercife  of 
grace,  relying  upon  it  that  they  have  had  fuch 
exercifes  often,  and  an  affurance  that  they  did 
devote  themfelves  to  Chrift,  and  that  he  was 
their  chcfen  Saviour,  8cc.  and  think  it  is  a  fin 
ever  to  doubt  of  this.  And  perhaps  they,  at 
leaft  fome  of  them,  think,  having  been  taught 
fo,  that  this  is  living  by  faith,  arid  not  byjight9 
and  that  it  is  a  fin  to  doubt,  let  their  prefent 
frame  and  exercifesof  mind  be  what  they  may. 

The  latter  have  minds  of  a  contrary  caft. 
They  are  difpofed  to  be  diffident  with  refpecl  to 
their  own  exercifes  which  may  be  fuppofed  to  be 
thofe  of  real  chriftians.  They  are  habituated  to 
look  on  the  dark  fide,  and  draw  conclufions 
againft  themfelves.  Though,  at  times,  they 
have  fuch  views  and  exercifes  as  to  revive  their 
hope,  and  even  remove  all  doubt  of  their  being 
real  chriltians.  Yet  when  thefe  exercifes  fubfide 
in  a  confiderable  degree  at  leaft,  and  they  fee 
much  in  their  heart,  contrary  to  thefe,  their 
doubts  arife  and  they  fear  they  have  been  delu- 
ded. They  attend  moft  to  the  evils  in  their 
hearts  and  lives,  their  felfifhnefs  and  pride, 
hardnef&of  heart  and  unbelief,  &c.  their  want 


SAMUEL  HOPKINS.  I3I 

of  love  to  God  and  great  deficiency  in  every 
right  exercife,  if  they  have  the  leaft  degree  of 
them  \  and  they  view  their  lives  as  very  defec- 
tive and  unfruitful,  the  fruit  of  floth  and  indif- 
ference to  the  moil  affedting  and  important  things 
&c.  &c.  They  are  difpofed  to  dwell  moft  upon 
thefe  things  in  their  thoughts  and  meditations, 
which  tends  to  keep  up  a  gloom  in  their  minds 
and  a  defpondency  which  feems  not  fo  well  to 
become  chriftrans,  who  are  required  to  be  cheer- 
ful and  to  rejoice  always.  Thefe  therefore  do 
undoubtedly  err  on  the  other  hand  from  the 
former,  though  the  fource  and  manner  of  their 
error  may  not  be  eafily  discovered  and  explained. 
If  I  am  a  real  chriftian,  I  mull  be  numbered 
with  the  latter,  though  differing  in  fome  refpects 
perhaps,  from  many  of  them,  if  not  from  all. 
But  I  could  wiih  that  I  were  fuch  a  chriftian  as 
not  to  be  juftly  claffed  with  either  the  former  or 
the  latter  ;  but  with  thofe  who  live  in  fuch  a 
conftant  affe£ting  view  and  fenfe  of  invifible, 
eternal  things,  and  in  the  exercife  of  fuch  pleat- 
ing approbation  of  the  chara£ter  of  Chrift,  and 
fuch  ftrong  and  fenfible  love  to  him,  as  to 
exclude  all  doubt,  and  enable  me  at  all  times, 
to  fay  with  Peter,  «  Lord,  thou  knowelt  that  I 
love  thee." 

They  who  oppofe  faith  to  fenfibility  and  all 
gracious  exercife  of  heart- are  grofsly  erroneous  9 
and  abfurd  in  their  notion  of  true  fpiritual  fenfi- 


132  LIFE  OF 

bility  and  of  faith,  and  they  wholly  pervert  and 
.  mifapply  the  words  of  the  Apoftle  Paul,  when 
he  fays,  "  "We  live  by  faith,  and  not  by  fight," 
for  he  does  not  here  oppofe  faith  to  fpiritual  fight 
and  fenfibility  of  heart  ;  but  to  the  difcerning 
and  fight  of  the  things  of  this  prefent  world. 
Not  living  by  fight  is  the  fame  with  not  looking 
at  the  things  which  are  feen 

Faith  i$  fpiritual  fight  and  fenfibility  of  heart, 
and  where  the  one  is  not,  the  other  cannot  exift, 
and  to  attempt  to  diftinguifh  and  feparate  them 
is  juft  as  unreafonable  and  abfurd  as  to  attempt 
to  make  two  different  things  of  that  which  is 
one  and  the  fame  thing.  Spiritual  fight  and  dif- 
cerning of  invifible  things,  or  the  truth  revealed 
in  the  gofpel,  imply  fenfibility  and  exercife  of 
heart,  and  in  this  true  faith  confifts,  or  this  is  the 
effence  of  faith,  fo  that  where  this  is  not,  there 
is  no  true  faith  •,  for  with  the  hearty  man  believ- 
eth,  and  none  have  faving  faith  but  they  who  be- 
lieve the  truths  of  the  gofpel  with  all  their  heart* 
Faith  worketh  by  love.  That  is,  faith  a£b  and 
operates  efficacioufly  by  love.  Love  is  the  life 
and  adlive  nature  of  faith  ;  fo  that  where  there 
is  no  love,  there  is  no  faith,  but  that  which  is  a 
lifelefs  dead  one.  Faith  purifieth  the  heart,  it  is 
itfelf  purity  of  heart  by  which  it  fees  God,  and 
confequently  all  thofe  invifible  things  which  are 
implied  in  his  Being  and  perfe&ions,  and  which 
he  has  revealed  to  man.     Faith  is  the  fmgle  eft 


SAMUEL  HOPKINS. 

which  belongs  to  the  heart,  is  the  fame  with  pu- 
rity of  heart,  by  which  the  mind  fees  the  truth 
and  is  filled  with  fpiritual  light,  love  and  holy  af- 
fection. 

There  is  therefore  no  fuch  thing  poffible  as 
Jiving  by  faith,  without  fpiritual  fight  and  that 
fenfibility  of  heart  in  which  is  implied  the  exer- 
cife  of  every  chriftian  grace  ;  for  this  is  a  plain 
contradiction,  and  a  dangerous  error.  So  that 
they  are  under  a  great  delufion,  who  think  that 
they  are  living,  in  this  fenfe  by  faith  and  not  by 
fight  ;  for  this  is  the  fame  with  living  by  faith 
and  not  living  by  faith.  Such  either  have  no 
idea  of  faith,  or  they  mean  by  it  a  mere  fpecu- 
lative  belief  which  wicked  men  and  devils  may 
have  :  Or  by  faith  they  mean  a  perfuafion  or  be- 
lief that  Chrift  died  for  them,  that  they  are  in- 
terefted  in  all  the  promifes  of  the  covenant  of 
grace,  Sec.  This  indeed  appears  to  be  the  mean- 
ing of  mod,  if  nQt  all  of  thofe  of  whom  I 
am  now  fpeaking.  They  hold  that  faving  faith 
is  believing  that  Chrift  is  my  Saviour,  and  that 
confequently  all  his  promifes  are  mine,  &c.  or 
that  this  belief  is  neceffarily  implied  in  faving 
faith,  and  effential  to  it.  They  contend  that  this 
faith  is  not  founded  on  any  evidence  from  within 
ourfelves,  any  exercife  of  heart,  of  love  to  God, 
&c.  but  it  is  a  direel:  perfuafion  and  undoubting 
belief  that  Chrift  died  for  me  and  is  mine  and 
will  fave  me,  without  any  evidence  that  I  have 

M 


i 


iv34  LIFE  °* 

any  fenfibility  or  friendlinefs  of  heart  towards 
his  chara&er,  or  confcioufnefs  of  any  thing  in 
;>:e  different  from  what  was  always  there,  or 
from  what  any  man  in  the  world  has.  In  fhort, 
it  is  a  faith  or  belief  not  grounded  on  any  evi- 
!ence  difcerned  in  ourfelves,  by  which  we  differ 
m  zny  other  finner,  and  to  which  any  promife 
is  made  j  and  without  any  evidence  of  what  we 
believe  from  the  bible  or  any  reafon  whatever. 
This  is  with  them  a  ftrong  heroic  faith,  and  even 
the  only  true  faving  faith  •,  for  it  is  their  opinion 
;hat  men  cannot  have  any  grace  in  their  hearts, 
inch  as  love  to  Chrift,  repentance,  &c.  until  they 
believe  that  Chrift  loves  them  and  died  for  them. 
This  faith  and  perfuafion  being  the  caufe  or 
aground  of  every  chriftian  grace,  and  true  fenfi- 
-  bility  and  gracious  affection  of  the  heart.  Hence 
they  think  that  looking  for  any  fuch  thing  in 
ourfelves,  as  an  evidence  that  we  have  an  intereft 
in  Chrift  and  (hall  be  faved  by  him,  is  an  un- 
certain and  legal  way  of  obtaining  aflurance* 
and  not  to  be  depended  on,  and  will  be  attended 
-with  endlefs  doubts  and  uncertainty,  at  beft. 

Mr.  Marfnal  wrote  a  book,  many  years  ago,  on 
this  plan,  and  exprefsly  fays  that  faith,  by  which 
he  means  believing  that  Chrift  is  ours,  and  that 
we  (hall  be  faved  by  him,  is  not  grounded  on  any 
thing  we  find  in  ourfelves,  which  has  been 
wrought  in  us  by  the  fpirit  of  God,  or  on  any 
evidence  iromfcripture,  or  fenfe>  or  reafon  /  but 


SAMUEL  HOPKINS.  13$ 

this  proportion  that  Chrift  and  falvation  are  ours, 

we  mult  believe  and  be  allured  is  true,  without 
any  evidence  of  the  truth  of  it  from  any  thing 
whatfoevtr.  And  from  this  faith  when  men  at- 
tain to  it,  the  heart  will  be  filled  with  love  to 
God  and  every  chriftian  grace.  This  book  has 
had  a  number  of  editions,  and  has  been  read 
and  admired  by  thoufands.  Mr.  Hervey  a  late 
noted  and  celebrated  writer  in  England,  was  in 
the  fame  fcheme  with  Mr.  Marftial,  and  he 
fpeats  of  his  book  in  terms  of  warm  approba- 
tion, and  recommends  it  as  the  next  book  to  the 
bible.  Mr.  Hervey's  dialogues,  which  are  on 
this  plan,  have  had  a  great  run  and  have  been 
greatly  approved  by  religious  people  in  general. 
And  no  man  has  exprefsly  written  againft  his  and 
Marftial's  notion  of  faith,  &c.  in  Great-Britain 
that  I  have  heard  of  ;  and  their  fcheme  or  fome- 
thing  like  it,  is  generally  embraced  now  by  thofe 
who  call  themfelves  calvinifts  both  clergy  and 
laity  in  Great-Britain.  The  only  perfon  who 
has  written  exprefsly  againft  thefe  writers,  and 
expofed  the  falfehood  and  abfurdity  of  their  no- 
tion of  love  to  God,  faith  in  Chrift,  and  affur- 
ance  of  a  title  to  eternal  life,  is  Do&or  Bellamy, 
which  book  is  read  but  by  very  few  m  Great-Bri- 
tain; partly,  I  fuppofe,  becaufe  it  expofes  and  con- 
demns the  fentiments  of  thefe  men  on  the  heads 
mentioned,  who  are  in  high  efteem  there  for 
their  eminent  piety.  But  were  *hey  ever  fo  truly 
pious  in  heart,  and  religious   and  exemplary  in 


I36  LIFE  Of 

their  conduft  •,  yet  thefe  principles,  which  they 
advocated,  are  not  the  lets,  but  the  more  dan- 
gerous and  mifchievous  on  that  account,  and 
therefore  ought  to  be  expofed,  in  all  their  falfe- 
hood,  abfurdity  and  evil  tendency.  For  they 
are  indeed  directly  contrary  to  the  fcripture,  to 
fenfe  and  reafon,  and  of  the  mod  dangerous  and 
hurtful  tendency  ;  and  reprefent  experimental 
religion  as  the  moft  irrational  and  abfurd  thing 
that  was  ever  imagined.  The  papifts'  doctrine  of 
tranfubftantiation,  and  any  doctrine  contained  in 
the  alcoran  of  the  Mahometans,  is  not  more 
contradictory,  irrational  and  abfurd  than  thefe 
fentiments  are,  with  whatever  artful  and  foe- 
cious  colors  t1:  be  d relied  up. 

I  have  dwelt  thus  long  on  this  head   as  thefe 
fentiments  appear  to  me  fo  contrary  to  fcripture, 
and   are   of  fuch   pernicious  tendency,  and  are 
contrary  to  all  my  religious  experience,  as  they 
are  to  my  reafon.     But  if  I  am  not  a  ch 
and  all  my    exercifes  of  heart  and  religious  ex- 
periences   fall    fhort  of  true    religion,  and 
mere  delation  ;  yet  I  am  certain  that   tfc 
ments  concerning  lave  to   God,  faith   in  Jc 
Chrift,  and  affurance  of  an  intereft  in  him  now 
mentioned,  cannot  be  true,  but  are  grots  delu- 
fion  ;  and  they,  whofe  exercifes  of  heart,  and 
experimental  religion  are  wholly  built  upon  thefe 
principles,  are  awfully  deluded,    and   ftran^r 
to  real  religion.     I  wHl  now  mention  fome  of  tat: 
vcafons  on  which  my  affurance  of  this  is  grounded. 


SAMUEL  HOPKINS.  23  7 

i.  Such  a  faith  has  no  evidence  of  what  is  ♦ 
believed,  and  therefore  is  without  foundation, 
and  a  mere  delufion.  They  fay  it  is  believing 
that  of  which  there  is  no  evidence  from  fcrip- 
ture,  fenfe  or  reafon  5  and  this  implies  that  it  is 
contrary  to  fcripture,  fenfe  and  reafon,  for  what 
is  not  agreeable  to  thefe  muft  be  contrary  to 
them.  And  we  are  certain  it  is  contrary  to  rea- 
fon and  fcripture  to  believe  without  any  evidence,  « 
and  the  latter  abundantly  declares  that  they  have 
no  interefl  in  Chrift,  who  do  not  come  to  him, 
and  are  not  poflefled  of  that  which  implies  love 
to  him.  Therefore  fuch  a  belief  is  a  delufion  and 
a  belief  of  a  lie. 

2.  Such  a  faith  is  not  the  faith  which  the  gof- 
pel  defcribes.  No  fuch  faith  is  fpoken  of  as 
faving  faith.  It  does  not  confift  in  believing 
Chrift  is  mine,  &c.  but  in  believing  with  all  the 
heart  that  he  is  the  fon  of  God,  &c.  And  the 
evidence  that  we  have  this  faith  and  thofe  things 
which  are  implied  in  it,  is  the  only  good  evi* 
dence  we  can  have,  according  to  fcripture  or  the 
reafon  and  nature  of  things,  that  Chrift  is  our 
Saviour.     This  leads  to  another  particular, 

3.  Theaflurance  a  man  gets  that  Chrift  is  his 
Saviour,  only  by  believing  it  to  be    true  without 
any  evidence,  is  always  falfe  aflurance,  and  only  « 
the  belief  of  a  lie.     There  is  no  other  true  af- 
lurance or  belief  that  Chrift  is  our  Saviour,  but 

m  2 


I38  LIFE  OF,  &C. 

that  which  is  grounded  on  evidence  that  fome- 
thing  has  taken  place  in  us  which  implies  a  new 
heart,  and  real  love  to  him,  which  is  real  holi- 
nefs.  So  that  fandlification  of  heart  is  the  only 
good  evidence  any  one  can  have  of  juflification, 
or  an  intereft  in  Chrift. 

4.  This  plan  is  wholly  built  upon  felfifhnefs, 
and  according  to  it  felf-love  is  tire  foundation  of 
love  to  God,  and  of  all  chriftian  grace.  There- 
fore in  order  to  our  loving  God,  we  muft  believe 
he  loves  us,  and  Chrift  died  for  us,  &c.  But  this 
is  not  true  love  to  God.  And  all  the  religion 
which  is  built  on  this  plan  is  nothing  but  a  piece 
of  felfiQinefs,  which  according  to  fcripture  and 
reafon  is  not  true  religion,  but  wickednefs. 


END  OF  THE  LIFE. 


DIALOGUE, 

BETWEEN    A 

CALVINIST 

AND   A  # 

SEMI- CALVINIST, 


A  DIALOGUE. 


Semi-Calvinist. 

SIR,  I  have  wanted,  for  fome  time,  to  talk 
with  you  about  the  notion,  which  fome  lately- 
advance,  viz.  That  chriftians  may,  yea,  that 
they  ought,  and  mud  be  willing  to  perifh  for- 
ever, in  order  to  be  chriftians.  This  is  a  (hock- 
ing doctrine  to  me  :  For  I  believe  it  abfolutely 
impofiibie  for  any  one  to  be  willing  to  be  eternal- 
ly wretched  ;  and,  if  it  were  poflible,  it  would 
be  very  wicked  ;  for  we  are  commanded  to  do 
that  which  is  directly  contrary  to  this,  viz.  to 
defire  and  feek  to  efcape  damnation,  and  to  be 
laved  ;  as   all  our  moil  confiderable   and    beft 

ines  have  taught,  which  I  could  eafily  prove, 
were  it  neceflary. 

Calvinist.  I  can  decide  nothing  upon  this 
matter  until  I  know  what  is  meant  by  being  wi- 
ling to  be  miferable forever  >  by  thofe  who  aflert  this, 
or  youy  who  oppofe  it.  Let  me  then  afk  you, 
Do  you  fuppofe  that  by  being  willing  to  be  mif- 
erable  is  meant  a  being  pleafed  with  damnation, 
or  choofing  to  be  miferable  forever,  for  its  own 
fake  or  in  itfelf  confidered  ;  and  preferring  mif- 
ery,  eternal  mifery,  and  being  juft  as  the  damned 
will  be,  to  eternal  happinefs,  and  being  juft  as 
the  blefled  will  be  forever,  confideringthe  form- 


142  A  DIALOGUE. 

er  as  being  in  itfelf  better  than  the  latter  1  This 
is  doubtlefs  impofiible,  and  if  it  were  not,  would 
be  very  unreafonable  and  wicked.  And  I  quef- 
tion  whether  any  one  ever  believed  this,  or  meant 
to  aflert  it,  by  faying  that  chriftians  ought  to  be 
willing  to  perifh  forever.  But  if  by  being  wil- 
ling to  be  caft  off  by  God  forever,  be  meant, 
that  however  great  and  dreadful  this  evil  is  j  yet 
a  chriftian  may  and  ought  to  be  willing  to  fuffer 
it,  if  it  be  necefiary  in  order  to  avoid  a  greater 
evil ;  or  to  obtain  an  overbalancing  good,  if  fuch 
a  cafe  can  be  fuppofed  :  This,  I  think,  is  true,  and 
ought  to  maintained,  as  eflential  to  the  character 
of  a  chriftian  •,  and  that  the  contrary  do&rine 
is  dangerous  and  hurtful.  For  it  is  effential  to 
true  benevolence  to  prefer  a  greater  good  to  a 
lefs,  and  a  lefs  evil  to  a  greater,  and  that  whether 
it  be  private  or  public  good  or  evil ;  or  his  own 
perfonal  good  or  evil,  or  that  of  others. 

Semj.  I  am  unable  to  conceive  what  you 
mean  by  "  a  greater  evil"  than  eternal  dam- 
nation, or  "  a  greater  good"  to  be  promoted  by 
this  evil.  Is  not  this  tjie  greateft  of  all  evils  ? 
And  what  good  is  kft  for  him,  who  is  doomed 
to  eternal  mifery*?  I  grant  that  a  man  may, 
and  ought  to  fubje£t  himfelf,  in  many  cafes,  to 
a  lefs  evil,  in  order  to  avoid  a  greater,  or  to  ob- 
tain a  greatly  overbalancing  good  •,  but  in  the 
prcpofed  cafe  all  good  is  loft  forever,  and  the 
greateft  poffible  evil  takes  place,  and  nothing  but 
evil,  without  end. 


A  DIALOGUE  I43 

Calv.  Is  not  the  damnation  of  millions  a 
greater  evil  than  the  damnation  of  a  fingle  per- 
fon  ?  And  is  not  the  eternal  happinefs  of  mil- 
lions a  greater  good,  than  that  of  one  individual  i 
This  I  know  you  will  grant.  Suppofing  it  were 
neceflary  for  one  individual  to  be  miferable  for- 
ever in  order  to  fave  a  million  from  this  mifery  ; 
and  by  his  fubjecting  himfelf  to  this,  they  would 
all  be  faved  from  this  evil,  and  be  eternally  hap- 
py :  ought  he  not  to  be  willing  to  perifh,  in  fuch 
a  cafe  and  on  this  fuppofition  ?  And  if  he  {hould 
not  be  willing  to  give  himfelf  up  to  this  evil,  to 
fave  a  million  from  it,  and  to  make  them  eter- 
nally happy,  would  he  not  prefer  a  million  times 
greater  evil  to  one  a  million  times  lefs  ;  andchoofe 
a  million  times  lefs  good  and  prefer  it  to  one  a 
million  times  greater  ?  And  if  this  is  not  un- 
reafonable  and  wicked,  and  direftly  contrary  to 
true  benevolence,  what  can  be  ? 

Semi.  This  is  making  an  impoffible  fuppofi- 
tion. The  damnation  of  one  man  cannot  fave 
one,  much  lefs  a  million. 

Calv.  I  grant  it  is  an  impoffible  fuppofition  ; 
but  it  neverthelefs  ferves  fa  (how  that  there  may 
be  a  greater  evil  than  the  damnation  of  one  in- 
dividual •,  a  good  that  will  overbalance  a  million 
times,  the  evil  of  the  damnation  of  one  man  ; 
and  that  on  fuppofition ,  this  greater  evil  can  bea- 
voided,  and  the  overbalancing  good  obtained,  by 
the  damnation  of  one  man,  and  can  be  done  no 
other  way,  then  it  is  defirable  he  (hould  be  dam- 


i44  A  DIALOGUE 

ned?  and  he  ought  to  be  willing,  and  to  choofe 
it.  St.  Paul  makes  this  fame  fuppofition,  when 
he  fays,  "  I  could  wifh  that  myfelf  were  ac- 
curfed  from  Chrift,  for  my  brethren,  my  kinf- 
men,  according  to  the  flefh,"  and  declares  that 
he  fhould  be  willing  to  perifli  and  could  even 
<wj/b  it,  if  by  that  means,  all  the  nation  of  the 
Jews  might  be  faved. 

Semi.  This  is  carrying  things  too  far.  It  is 
impofiible  that  any  man  fhould  be  willing  to  give 
up  all  good,  and  to  be  miferable  forever,  for  the 
fake  of  the  good  of  others,  be  it  ever  fo  great. 
And  you  mifunderftand  St.  Paul,  when  you 
fuppofe  he  fays  that  he  fhould  be  willing  to  perifh 
for  the  fake  of  the  falvation  of  his  brethren. 
By  being  accurfed  from  Chrift,  he  means  fome 
temporary  evil  only,  which  he  might  fuffer  con- 
fidently with  his  being  a  chriftian,  and  his  ob- 
taining eternal  life. 

Calv.  You  implicitly  grant  in  what  you 
have  juftTaid,  that  a  man  may  be  willing  to  fuf- 
fer evil,  and  a  great  degree  of  it,  for  the  fake  of 
the  good  of  others  :  And  indeed,  this  mull  be 
granted  by  all  who  allow  there  is  any  fuch  thing 
in  nature  as  diiinterefted  benevolence,  or  loving 
our  neighbour  as  ourfelves.  And  that  this  is  the 
nature  of  true  iove  or  charity  the  fcripture  af- 
ferts  "  charity  feefreth  not  her  own."  And  all 
men  will  grant  that  it  is  reasonable  that  a  man 
fhould  give  up  his  own  good  to  a  great  degree 
for  the  fake  of  his  neighbour's  good  :     He  ought 


A  DIALOGUE.  145 

•:o  be  willing,  for  inftance,  to  endure  hunger  a 
whole  day,  to  fave  his  neighbour  from  ftarving  : 
He  ought  to  be  willing  to  give  up  his  whole 
worldly  intereft  and  comfort,  and  live  a  life  of 
poverty  and  want,  if  this  were  neceflary  to  fave 
a  whole  nation  from  ruin,  and  make  them  rich 
and  happy :  yea,  he  ought  to  be  willing  to  ex- 
pofe,  and  give  up  his  life,  if  this  were  neceffary 
for  the  good  of  his  country,  and  to  fave  the  lives 
of  millions. 

And  if  this  be  the  nature  of  benevolence,  and 
moft  reafonable,  what  bounds  can  be  fet  to  it, 
and  where  fliall  it  flop  ?  If  true  benevolence 
will  give  up  twenty  degrees  of  perfonal  good  for 
the  fake  of  a  thoufand  degrees  of  gcod  to  others  : 
it  will  give  up  a  thoufand  degrees^  for  the  fake 
of  obtaining  fifty  thoufand  degrees  of  good  to 
others ;  and  fo  on,  till  he  has  given  up  all  his 
own  perfonal  good  for  a  proportionably  greater 
good  to  the  public.  Nothing  but  a  want  of  be- 
nevolence or  a  defect  of  it,  can  render  a  man  un- 
willing, in  the  cafe  propofed,  to  give  up  all  his 
perfonal  good.  And  there  is  the  fame  reafon  for 
his  doing  it,  as  there  is  for  his  giving  up  one  de- 
gree of  his  own  good  for  the  fake  of  procuring 
fifty  degrees  of  good  to  others. 

And  if  benevolence  will  lead  a  man  to  fuffer 
one  degree  of  pain  and  mifery,  in  order  to  fave* 
another  from  an  hundred  degrees  of  pain,  and 
it  be  moft  reafonable  that  he  fhould  ;  then,  for 
the  fame  reafon  he  will  be  willing  to  fuffer   an 

N 


1 46  A  DIALOGUE. 

hundred  degrees  of  pain  or  pofitlve  evil,  if  this 
be  neceflary  in  order  to  fave  his  neighbours  from 
ten  thoufand  degrees  of  evil  ;  and  he  mutt  be 
willing  to  fuffer  all  the  pofitive  evil  and  pain  that 
he  is  capable  of  through  the  whole  of  his  exift- 
ence,  if  this  be  neceflary  to  fave  an  hundred 
thoufand  or  even  an  hundred,  from  this  evil. 
For  there  is  the  fame  reafon  why  he  fhould  be 
willing  to  fuffer  all  this  for  the  fake  of  a  propor- 
tionately greater  good  to  others,  as  that  he  fhould 
be  willing  to  fuffer  one  degree,  to  fave  others 
from  an  hundred  degrees.  And  if  it  be  contra- 
ry to  benevolence  to  be  unwilling  to  fuffer  one 
degree,  of  evil  to  fave  others  from  an  hundred 
degrees  of  it ;  it  muft  be  equally  contrary  to  it  to 
be  unwilling  to  fuffer  all  poffible  degrees  of  evil, 
for  the  fake  of  faving  others  from  a  proportion- 
ably  greater  evil. 

It  hence  appears  that  the  apcftle  Paul,  fpoke 
the  language  of  true  benevolence,  and  declared 
he  felt,  as  he  ought  to  feel,  when  he  faid,  he 
could  wifli  himfelf  accurfedfrom  Chrjflj  if  by  this 
means  his  brethren  might  be  favcd,  if  we  un- 
derftand  him  as  meaning,  that  he  was  willing  to 
be  loft  forever  for  their  fake,  that  they  might  be 
faved.  And  why  {hall  he  not  be  underftood  to 
fay,  what  he  ought  to  fay,  and  to  fpeak  the 
language  of  true  benevolence  ;  fince  this  is  the 
natural  import  of  his  words,  and   to  be  accurfed 

m  Chriftj  cannot  mean  lefs  than  eternal  dam- 
nation,   without  putting  an  unnatural,    forced 


A  DIALOGUE.  147 

meaning  upon  them  ?  St.  Paul  certainly 
thought  it  was  a  great  evil  which  he  mentions, 
and  was  willing  it  fhould  come  upon  him  for  the 
fake  of  his  brethren  ;  fince  he  meant  hereby  to 
exprefs  his  love  to  them.  If  the  evil  were  fmall 
and  inconfiderable,  it  exprefled  but  a  frnall  and 
inconfiderable  degree  of  benevoLnce  •,  and  the 
greater  the  evil  was,  which  he  was  w  illing  to 
fuffer  for  their  fake,  the  greater  benevolence  was 
exprefled.  He  therefore  doubtlefs  mentioned 
the  greateft  evil,  that  he  could  conceive,  and 
that  he  was  capable  of  fuffering  ;  when  he  mean': 
to  exprefs  the  greatnefs  and  ftfength  of  his  love 
to  them.  And,  by  the  way,  as  it  was  no  argu- 
ment that  Paul  thought  it  to  be  a  fmall  evil  or 
none  at  all  to  be  accurfedfrom  Chrijl,  or  that  he 
had  no  averfion  to  it,  and  that  it  was  not  dread- 
ful to  him  ;  but  the  contrary,  becaufe  he  was 
willing  to  fuffer  it,  for  the  fake  of  his  brethren  : 
fo  it  is  no  argument  that  any  man  does  nor 
damnation  infinitely  dreadful,  and  has  not  a 
proper  averfion  to  it,  becaufe  he  is  willing  to  be 
damned,  rather  than  a  greater  evil  iliould  take 
place,  or  for  the  fake  of  promoting  a  greater 
cod. 

Semi.  For  my  part,  I  mufl  fay,  this  is  all 
darknefs  to  me.     How  can  thefe  thing  be  ? 

Calv.  Let  us  take  another,  or  a  little  differ- 
ent view  of  this  point  ;  perhaps  it  may  be  fet  in 
a  more  eafy,  convincing  light.  I  conclude  you 
will  grant  that  the  glory  of  God,  or  the  greateft 


6 


I48  A  DIALOGUE. 

and  mofl  advatageous  difplay  of  the  divine  per- 
fections, is  of  the  higheft  importance  •,  and  that 
it  is  reasonable,  and  our  duty  to  make  this  our 
higheft  and  fupreme  end,  in  all  our  defires  and 
actions  5  and  that  we  ought  not  to  be  willing 
any  thing  mould  take  place,  inconfiftent  with 
his  glory  ;  and  that  we  ought  to  be  willing  that 
mould  take  place,  be  it  what  it  may,  which  is 
mod  for  his  glory  \  even  though  it  be  the  eternal 
damnation  of  finners. 

Semi.  I  grant  that  we  ought  to  make  the  glo- 
ry of  God  our  fupreme  end.  But  this  will  be  fo 
far  from  making  us  willing  to  be  damned,  that  it 
will  lead  us  to  defire  and  purfue  our  falvation, 
that  he  may  be  glorified  in  that,  and  that  we  may 
glorify  him  forever. 

Calv.  But  it  is  not  for  the  glory  of  God  that 
all  fhould  be  faved  j  but  molt  for  his  glory  that 
a  number  fhould  be  damned  ;  other  wife  all  would 
be  faved.  We  will  therefore  now  make  a  fup- 
pofition,  which  is  not  an  impoffible  one,  viz, 
thatitismoftfor  God's  glory,  and  for  the  univer- 
sal good  that  you  fhould  be  damned  ;  ought  you 
to  be  willing  to  be  damned,  on  this  fuppofi- 
tion,  that  God  cculd  not  be  glorified  by  you  in 
any  other  way  ? 

Se:vII.  You  are  full  of  your  fuppofiiions  ;  I 
will  not,  I  cannot,  I  have  no  bufinefs  to  fuppofe 
any  fuch  thing. 

Calv.  You  know  that  it  is  mod  for  the  glo- 
ry of  God  that  fome  {hould  be   damned.     And 


A  DIALOGUE.  I49 

if  youdo  not  know  that  you  area  chriitian,  you  do 
not  know  but  itisinfaft  true,  that  it  ismcftfor  the 
glory  of  God,  that  you  mould  be  damned  \  the 
fuppofition  is  therefore  natural  and  eafy,  and 
you  cannot  well  avoid  making  it.  Suppofmg 
then  this  were  true,  which  may  be  true,  notwith- 
ftanding  any  thing  you  know,  how  ought  you 
to  feel  with  refpedt  to  it  ?  ought  you  not  to  be 
willing  to  be  damned  ? 

S^ii.     This  is  impoffible  ! 

Calv.  I  grant  it  is  impoffible  to  one  who  val- 
ues himfelf,  and  his  own  perfonal  intereft  and 
happinefs,  more  than  he  does  the  glory  of  God, 
and  the  higheft  intereft  of  his  kingdom.  And 
it  is  infallibly  certain  that  every  one  who  lives 
and  dies  with  fuch  a  difpofition,  will  and  muil 
be  damned.  But  to  him  who  loves  God  fu- 
premely,  and  defires  his  glory  above  all  things,  it 
is  fo  far  from  being  impoffible  to  be  willing  to  be 
damned,  on  fuppofition  this  is  mod  for  God's 
glory,  that  he  could  not  will  or  choofe  any  thing 
elfe.  He  mud  fay,  "  let  God  be  glorified,  let 
what  will  become  of  me."  If  he  cannot  fay  fo, 
it  is  becaufe  his  own  intereft  and  happinefs,  are 
of  more  importance  with  him,  than  the  glory 
of  God  \  or  in  other  words,  becaufe  he  is  not  a 
true  friend,  but  an  enemy  to  God. 

Semi.  But  fuppofe  he  knows  he  loves  God, 
and  therefore  knows  that  it  is  for  the  glory  of  God 
that  he  fhould  be  faved  ? 

N2 


15°  A  blALOGUE. 

Calv.  No  man  can  know  that  he  loves  God, 
until  he  does  really  lovehim;  that  is  until  he  does 
feek  his  glory  above  all  things,  and  is  difpofed  to 
fay,  «  let  God  be  glorified,  whatever  may  be 
neceflary  in  order  to  it,"  without  making  any 
exception  :  and  this  is  to  be  willing  to  be  damned, 
if  this  be  neceflary  for  the  glory  of  God.  And 
as  he  cannot  know  that  he  loves  God,  till  he  has 
this  difpofition,  which  is  neceflarily  implied  in 
love  to  God,  he  does  not  know  that  it  is  not  ne- 
ceflary for  the  glory  of  God  that  he  fhould  be 
damned.  He  therefore  cannot  know  that  he 
loves  God,  and  fhall  be  faved,  until  he  knows  he 
has  that  difpofition  which  implies  a  willingnefs 
to  be  damned,  if  it  be  not  moil  for  the  glory  cf 
God  that  he  fhould  be  faved.  And  if  any  one 
thinks  he  loves  God,  and  fhall  be  faved  ;  if  he 
finds  that  his  love  to  God  does  not  imply,  awil- 
lingnefs  to  be  damned,  if  this  were  moft  for  his 
glory,  he  has  reafon  to  conclude  that  h,e  is  de- 
ceived, and  that  what  he  calls  love  to  God  is 
really  enmity  againft  him.  For  he,  who  cannot 
love  God  on  any  fuppofition  but  that  he  will  not 
damn  but  fave  him,  is  not  a  friend,  but  an  ene- 
my to  God. 

Let  us  examine  this  matter  in  a  little  different 
light  ftill.  I  would  afk  the  following  queflion.  Is 
it  notreafonable,  and  a  duty  to  fubmit  to  the  will 
of  God,  and  acquiefce  in  it,  refpefting  his  gov- 
erning providence,  and  difpofal  of  all  things  ;  fo 
as  to  be  able  to  fay.  "  thy  will  be  done,"  with- 
out making  any  exception  ? 


A  DIALOGUE.  151 

Semi.  I  cannot  obje£l  againft  this  ;  it  mult 
be  anfwered  in  the  affirmative  ;  for  God's  will  is 
infinitely  wife  and  good,  and  it  is  rebellion 
againit  him  to  be  unwilling  that  he  fhould  do  as 
he  pleafes,  or  to  make  any  exception  whatever. 

Calv.  You  have  conceeded  all  that  is  necef- 
fary,  I  think,  in  order  to  decide  the  point  in  dif- 
pute  between  us.  God  has  revealed  it  to  be  his 
will  to  punifh  fome  of  mankind  forever.  You 
know  not  but  you  are  one  of  them.  Whether 
you  fhall  be  faved  or  damned  depends  entirely  on 
his  will  :  And  fuppofing  he  fees  it  moil  for  his 
glory,  and  the  general  good  that  yon  fhould  be 
damned,  it  is  certainly  his  will  that  you  fhould 
be  damned.  On  this  fuppofition  then,  you  ought 
to  be  willing  to  be  damned  ;  for  not  to  be  willing 
to  be  damned,  in  this  cafe,  is  oppofing  God's 
will,  inftead  of  faying,  "thy  will  be  done." 

In  this  cafe,  it  is  eafy  to  fee  that  there  is  no 
way  to  efcape  damnation,  but  by  being  willing 
to  be  damned,  on  fuppofition  it  is  the  will  of 
God  to  call  you  off;  as  there  is  no  other  way  to 
fubmit  to  his  will,  and  acquiefce  in  it,  choofing 
his  will  fhould  be  done  :  Without  which  fub- 
miffion  it  is  impoffible  a  man  fhould  be  faved. 
For  to  make  anyexception,  and  to  be  willing  God 
fhould  do  as  he  pleafes,  if  he  will  fave  you,  and 
on  no  other  condition,  i3  no  true  fubmiflion  to 
God  ;  but  a  fetting  up  your  will  to  be  the  rule  of 
God's  conduct,  towards  you.  And  to  attempt  to 
to  get  to  heaven,  or  to  obtain  aflUranre  or  any 


152  A  DIALOGUE. 

evidence  that  you  fhall  be  faved,  in  oppofition  to 
fuch  a  fubmlffion  to  the  will  of  God,  without 
making  any  condition,  or  exception  in  favour  of 
yourfeif,  is  to  fight  againft  God,  and  to  go  in 
the  road  to  hell. 

Semi.  I  think  thefe  things  had  better  be  let 
alone,  fuppofing  there  be  any  truth  in  what  you 
advance  :  for  fuch  a  way  of  talking  only  tends  to 
puzzle  people,  and  to  difcourage,  and  perplex 
chnitians  ;  and  will  be  of  no  advantage  to  any 
body. 

Calv.  It  may  puzzle  and  difcourage  half- 
chrijiiansy  who  never  were  brought  to  an  unre- 
ferved  lubmiflion  to  the  will  of  God,  and' to  de- 
fire  his  glory,  above  all  things.  And  it  is  to  be 
wilhed  they  might  be  fo  difcouraged,  as  to  be 
convinced  that  they  are  not  real  chriftians.  It 
may  alfo  puzzle  fome  real  chriftians,  for  a  time, 
who  have  never  carefully  attended  to  this  matter, 
fo  as  to  compare  their  own  feelings  with  this 
truth,  when  rightly  underftood  :  They  having 
never  viewed  this  point  in  a  true  light,  but  by 
their  education,  and  the  inftrudtions  they  have 
had,  have  imbibed  prejudices  againft  it,  as  it  has 
been  reprefented,  or  rather  /^reprefented  to 
them.  But  when  thefe  have  the  truth  fairly 
laid  before  them,  and  it  is  properly  explained  \ 
it  is  to  be  prefumed,  it  will  be  fo  far  from  per- 
plexing and  difcouraging  them,  that  it  will  re- 
move all  their  prejudices,  and  it  will  become  a 
ftrengthening,  encouraging  do&rine  to    them, 


A  DIALOGUE.  153 

while  they  find  their  hearts  in  fome  meafure,  a- 
greeing  with  this  truth,  and  feel  that  to  have 
God  loofe  his  honour,  and  the  greater!  general 
good  not  promoted  ;  and  the  will  of  God  not 
done,  and  his  infinitely  wife  and  good  plan  marr- 
ed and  hurt  :  is  to  them  an  infinitely  greater 
evil,  than  their  own  damnation,  or  that  of  mil- 
lions of  others.  And  if  they  cannot  be  faved, 
confidently  with  God's  higheft  honour,  and  the 
greateft  good  of  the  whole,  and  agreeable  to  the 
divine  will  and  plan,  there  can  be  no  falvation* 
for  them,  which  they  would  defire  ^  but  are 
willing  to  be  damned,  if  that  only  be  confiftent 
with  all  this. 

But  let  the  matter  be  ftated  on  a  yet  different 
footing,  and  the  fame  truth,  I  believe,  will  turn 
up  to  view,  and  perhaps,  with  fome  additional 
evidence,  if  it  can  be  made  more  evident.  You 
believe,  I  conclude,  that  God  will  for  his  own 
glory,  and  the  greateft  general  good,  punifh 
many  of  mankind  with  everlafting  deftruction. 

Semi.     To  be  fure. 

Calv.  And  to  this,  I  fuppofe  you  have  no 
objection  ;  but  acquiefce  in  it,  and  are  quite 
willing  it  mould  be  fo,  fince  it  is  neceflary  for 
the  glory  of  God,  and  the  greateft  good  of  the 
whole. 

Semi.  Yes,  fince  this  is  the  will  of  God, 
and  neceflary  to  anfwer  the  end  you  have  men- 
tioned, I  am  willing  they  Ihould  be  miferable  for- 
eveT. 


154  A  DIALOGUE. 

Calv.  And  how  do  you  know  that  it  is  not 
as  aeceffary  that  you  fhould  be  damned  to  an- 
fwer  the  fame  ends,  as  that  any  one  elfe  mould  ; 
and  that  therefore  it  is  the  will  of  God  to  damn 
you  with  them  ?  At  leaft,  we  may  make  the 
fuppofition  that  this  is  really  fo.  How  do  you 
feel  on  this  flate  of  the  cafe.  Are  you  willing 
to  be  damned,  if  it  be  neceffary  to  anfwer  the 
fame  end,  that  is  fought  by  the  damnation  of 
others,  and  for  the  fake  of  which  you  are  willing 
they  fhould  be  damned  ? 

Semi.  This  is  a  hard  queftion,  I  fufpe£t  there 
is  fome  puzzle  in  it. 

Calv.  It  appears  to  me  to  be  a  plain  cafe. 
If  there  be  the  fame  reafon,  and  the  fame  necef- 
fity,  that  you  mould  be  damned,  as  that  others 
fhould  be  caft  off  \  and  this  is  a  fufficient  reafon 
with  you  to  be  willing  they  {hould  be  damned  ; 
th~n  fcr  the  fame  reafon^  you  mud  be  willing  to 
be  damned  yourfelf,  and  cannot  but  be  willing, 
if  you  feel  according  to  reafon,  and  love  your 
neighbour  as  well  and  as  much  as  yourfelf. 
You  mult,  therefore,  if  you  would  not  be  in- 
confiftent,  either  riifapprove  of  your  neighbours 
damnation,  and  gbjetl  to  it,  refufing  your  con- 
fent  :  or  you  muft  be  willing  to  be  damned, 
there  being  the  fame  reafon  and  necemty  for  it, 
as  there  is  that  your  neighbour  mould  be  thus 
punifhed,  who  deferves  it  no  more  than  you. 
Nothing  but  an  unreafonable  felfifhnefs,  and  dis- 
regard to   your   neighbours  welfare,  can  make 


A  DIALOGUE.  I55 

you  object  to  your  own  damnation,  and  confent 
to  his. 

Semi.  I  confefs  I  fee  no  way  out,  and  have 
nothing  to  reply  to  this  at  prefent.  But  I  have 
one  thing  to  fay  that  will  prove  your  arguments 
muft  be  defective  fome  where  though  I  do  not 
fee  it  at  prefent.  For  the  damned  will  be  per- 
fectly wicked  and  enemies  to  God  forever  ;  and 
it  cannot  be  right  to  be  willing  to  be  abandoned 
to  fin  and  enmity  againfl  God,  and  blafpheme 
his  name  forever.  Therefore  no  man  ought  to 
be  willing  to  be  damned,  unlefs  he  ought  to  be 
willing  to  be  God's  enemy,  and  like  the  devil 
forever  ;  to  aflert  which  would  be  {hocking,  and 
no  man  furely  can  believe  it. 

Calv.  This,  I  confefs  is  a  plaufible  objec- 
tion, and  has  fo  much  feeming  weight  in  it,  that 
no  wonder  it  (hould  appear  to  many,  at  the  firft 
view  at  leaft,  infuperable  and  unanfwerable. 
But  fince  it  feems  to  be  proved,  beyond  contra- 
diction, by  what  has  been  faid  above,  that  a 
man  ought  to  be  willing  to  be  damned,  on  the 
fuppofitions  which  have  been  made  ;  and  it  is 
impoffible  tha't  two  contradictory  propofitions 
fhould  be  both  true  ;  we  muft  not  admit  this  ob- 
jection to  be  unanfwerable,  without  carefully 
reviewing  and  examining  it.  And  if,  upon  ex- 
amination, it  fhall  appear  to  be  without  founda- 
tion, and  contrary  to  the  truth,  what  has  been 
before  proved,  will  be  yet  more  confirmed. 
,j+  You  have  granted,  and  all  muft   grant,  that 


I56  A  DIALOGUE. 

we  ought  to  be  willing  that  fbme  of  our  fellow 
men  fliould  be  abandoned  to  fin  and  ruin,  and  I  e 
confirmed  enemies  to  God  forever  :  And  it  is 
plain  that  to  acquiefce  in  this  is  fo  far  from  being 
a  friend  to  fin,  or  finful,  or  implying  any  enmi- 
ty againft  God  in  our  hearts,  that  thus  to  con- 
fent  to  it,  becaufe  it  is  the  revealed  will  of  God, 
for  his  own  glory  and  the  general  good,  is  an 
exercife  of  love  to  God,  and  his  law  ;  and  of 
benevolence  to  being  in  general :  And  not  to 
be  willing,  in  this  cafe,  and  to  refufe  cordially 
to  confent  to  it,  would  be  rebellion  againft  God. 
So  that  there  is  no  other  way  for  us,  not  to  turn 
enemies  to  God  ourfelves,  but  to  be  willing  that 
fome  of  our  fellow  men  fliould  be  enemies  to  him 
forever.  And  why  muft  not  this  be  juft  as  true 
in  our  own  cafe,  or  fuppofing  it  is  moll  for 
God's  glory  and  the  general  good  that  we  fhould 
be  given  up  to  eternal  enmity  againft  God  ;  and 
therefore,  God  hath  determined  we  (hould  be 
thus  given  up,  and  fent  to  hell,  with  others  ? 
Not  to  confent  to  it,  on  this  fuppofition,  would 
be  an  aft  of  enmity  againft  God  and  to  be  an 
enemy  to  him :  But  to  confent  to  it,  and  be 
willing  that  God's  will  fhould  be  done,  for  his 
own  glory  and  the  general  good,  would  be  fo  far 
from  being  friends  to  fin,  that  it  would  be  an 
exercife  of  love  and  friendfhip  to  God,  and 
benevolence  to  being  in  general.  And  fo  long  as 
we  continue  willing  to  be  ourfelves  with  others, 
abandoned  to  fin  and  ruin  forever,  for  the  reafons 


A  DIALOGUE.  IJ7 

Mid  ends  mentioned,  we  fhall  not,  we  cannot  be 
enemies  to  God  or  friends  to  fin,  for  this  implies 
a  plain  contradiction  :  But  as  foon  as  we  ceafe  to 
be  willing  to  be  thusgivenup  to  fin,  wearegivenup* 
and  turned  enemies  to  God  and  all  good  :  And  the 
evil  never  can  come  upon  us  until  we  withdraw 
our  fubmiflion,  and  refufe  to  acquiefce  in  the 
will  of  God.  Hence  it  appears  that  all  the  fore- 
going reafons  to  prove  that  we  ought  to  be  wil- 
ling to  be  damned,  if  this  be  the  will  of  God, 
and  for  his  glory  and  the  general  good,  (land 
good,  and  equally  prove  that  we  ought  to  con- 
sent to.  this,  on  this  fuppofitron  •,  even  though 
damnation  includes  a  being  given  up  to  fin  and 
enmity  againft  God  forever. 

Perhaps  this  point  may  be  farther  illufirated, 
and  fet  in  a  more  convincing  light  to  fome,  by 
the  inftance  of  the  angels,  who  were  all  created 
perfectly  holy.  It  was  beft,  on  the  whole,  mod 
for  God's  glory  and  the  general  good,  that  vaft 
numbers  of  them,  (hould  rebel  and  continue  in 
fin  and  ruin  forever  :  And  therefore  it  was 
God's  will  that  this  fhould  take  place.  Suppofe 
this  had  been  revealed  to  them,  when  they  were 
all  perfe&ly  holy,  and  each  one  could  not  know 
but  he  was  the  perfon,  who  among  others  was  to 
be  given  up  to  fin  and  deftruction  ;  for  the  glory 
of  God,  and  the  good  of  the  whole.  How 
ought  they  to  have  felt  on  fuch  an  occafion  ? 
They  mult  all  confent  to  the  will  of  Jehovah, 
and  fay  «  let  it  take  place  however  many  of  us, 
o 


I5S  A  DIALOGUE. 

or  whoever  of  us,  muft  fall  into  this  fmful  ruined 
{late,  or  whatever  becomes  of  us."  If  they  did 
not  thus  willingly  fubmit  to  the  will  of  Jehovah, 
they  would  by  that,  turn  enemies  to  him,  and 
fall  into  that  very  ftate,  and  bring  that  evil  upon 
themfelves,  which  they  oppofed,  or  to  which 
they  refufed  to  fubmit  for  the  glory  of  God,  and 
the  general  good.  But  fo  long  as  they  had  fuch 
a  fupreme  regard  for  the  will  of  God,  his  glory 
and  the  general  good  a§  to  fay,  "  thy  will  be  done, 
let  what  will  pome  upon  us,"  they  would  be  fe- 
cure  from  the  evil  ;  and  this  would  be  the  only 
way  to  avoid  it.     So  long   as  they  all   continued 

this  difpofition,  they  continued  happy  and 
holy.  They,  who  fell  into  a  ftate  of  endlefs 
fin  and  woe,  did  it  by  giving  up  fuch  a  difpofi- 
tion and  indulging  a  contrary  one  ;  and  they  who 
continue  holy  and  happy,  do  continue  and  per- 
ievere  in  this  ftate  and  chara£ter,  by  perfevering 
in  a  fubmiftion  to  the  will  of  God,  and  fuch  a 
regard  for  his  glory  and  the  general  good,  that 
they  are  willing  to  be  given  up  to  eternal  fin  and 
ruin,  if  this  were  neceflary  to  anfwer  thefe  ends, 
or  if  they  could  not  remain  in  this  holy  and  hap- 
py ftate,  confiftently  with  God's  glory,  and  the 
greateft  good  of  the  whole. 

In  a  word,  God  thought  it  beft,  and  there- 
fore was  willing  that  great  numbers  of  angels 
fhould  become  finful  and  miferable  forever  ;  and 
all  the  angels  before  any  of  them  fell,  were  like 
God  in  their  difpofition,  and  choice,  and  there-* 


A  DIALOGUE. 

fore  were  difpofed  to  acquiefce  in  his  will  and 
choice,  when  made  known  to  them.  Confe- 
quently  had  God's  will  been  difcovered  with 
pe£l  to  this,  they  would  all  hav 
fo  long  as  they  were  holy  as  God  is  holy.  And 
if  any  one  {hould  feel  the  leafi:  reluctance  to  it 
even  though  he  knew  he  was  one  that  was  to  fall 
into  fin  and  ruin,  he  would  by  that  reluctance- 
and  oppoiition  of  heart  to  God's  will,  be  an  ene- 
my to  God,  and  fall  into  ruin.  And  none  could 
fall  into  that  ftate,  in  any  pofiible  way,  but  by 
oppofing  God's  will  or  by  being  unwilling  that 
his  will  fhculd  be  done. 

Semi.  This  is  more  puzzling  yet.  You  car- 
ry us  away  to  the  angels,  concerning  whom  we 
know  but  little  •,  I  choofe  to  keep  nearer  home, 
and  mind  my  own  bufmefs. 

Calv.  If  you  are  determined  not  to  thinly 
and  will  not  range  into  any  quarter  of  the  uni- 
verfe,  to  get  light,  you  will  remain  in  darknefs, 
and  always  be  puzzled,  with  a  thoufand  things, 
while  a  child  of  fourteen  years  old,  who  has  a 
right  tafte  and  difpofition,  and  improves  his  un- 
derftanding,  as  he  ought,  will  be  at  no  lofs  about 
them  ;  but  will  fee  them  in  the  light  of  demon- 
stration. 

Your  laft  objection  was,  that  for  a  man  to  be 
willing  to  be  a  confirmed  enemy  to  God,  if  ne- 
ceilary  for  the  glory  of  God  and  the  general  good, 
would  be  a  finfujARition ;  and  therefore  he 
ought  not  to  bcjJ^fijr.     I  have  undertaken  to 


I<5o  A  DIALOGUE. 

fhew,  that  this  is  fo  far  from  being  true,  that 
not  to  be  willing,  in  the  cafe  propofed,  as  to  op- 
pofe  this,  would  be  a  finful  volition  ;  and  there 
is  no  other  way,  in  order  to  avoid  fin,  but  to  be 
willing,  in  this  cafe,  it  being  neceflary  to  an- 
fwer  thefe  ends,  to  be  call  off  into  a  flate  of 
Jefl:  wickednefs  and  ruin.  And  I  think  what 
has  been  faid  amounts  to  a  clear  demonftration, 
and  wifh  you  to  review  it  with  calmnefs  and  at- 
tention, and  fhew,  if  you  can,  where  the  argu- 
ment fails,  or  elfe  yield  to  the  force  "of  it,  and  think 
of  it  until  it  becomes  eafy  and  familiar  to  you. 

Semi.  Your  reafonings  on  the  fubje6t  feem 
to  be  clear  and  conclufive,  I  confefs.  At  lead,  I 
fee  no  way  at  prefent  to  confute  them.  But  I 
do  not  choofe  to  have  this  matter  fettled  by 
metaphyfical  reafouing  only.  I  want  fcripiurt 
proof  and  evidence  ;  for  when  we  go  by  this,  we 
are  on  fure  ground.  I  obferve  you  have  made 
but  little  ufe  of  the  bible  in  your  arguing  on  this 
point  \  from  which  I  concluded  you  can.  find  Ut- 
ile to  your  purpofe  in  that. 

Calv.  I  have  aimed  to  keep  the  fcripture  in 
view  in  all.  I  have  faid  on  this  fubject,  and  think 
I  have  made  what  is  there  revdfclea,  the  founda- 
tion of  all  my  reafonings  and  arguments  on  the 
points  ;  and,  that  I  have  been,  through  the 
whole  of  our  converfation,  4i  reafoning  with 
you  cut  of.  the  fcriptures."  From  the  fcriptures  • 
we  learn  that  the  glory  cf^&pd  ought  to  be  our 
ultimate  and  higheft  end  :  th«  we  are  command- 


A  DIALOGUE.  l6l 

cd  to  feek  his  glory  in  all  we  do  •,  and  therd 

are  forbid  to  defire  or  purfue  any  thing  which  is 
contrary  to  his  higheft  glory  ;  and  required  to 
fubmit  to  any  thing  and  defire  it  may  take  place, 
which  is  moft  for  his  glory.  Therefore,  on  fup- 
pofition  it  be  mod  for  his  glory  that  I  fhould  not 
be  faved  but  loft  :  I  ought  to  fubmit,  ana 
defire  to  be  faved. 

Again,  the  fcripture  teaches  us  that  we  o 
to  be  all   fubmiffion  to  the  will  of  Gcd,  and  al- 
ways to  be  difpofed  to  fay  from  the  heart,  "not 
my  will,  but  thine  be  done."     Therefore  on  fup- 
pofition  it  is  the  will  of  God  to  caft  me  oft,  I  m 
fay    heartily,  «  thy  will  be    done."     Not  to 
andfeelfo,  is  to  rife  in  rebellion  againft  God. 

Moreover,  the    fcripture    requires   us  t 
our  neighbour's  as   ourfelves.     If  I  do  fo,  anr 
am  willing   God   fhould  caft  any  of  my  fellow 
men  into  hell  forever,  for  his  own  glory  and  the 
general   good,  which    I   mud  be,   u 
againft  his  revealed  will  ;  then  I  rauft  be  wifli 
to  be  caft  off  myfelf,  if  this  be  nee. 
fwer  the  fame  ends. 

Thefe  are  the  reafons  and  arguments  by  which 
I  have  endeavoured  to  prove  what  I  have  ad- 
vanced :  And  is  not  this  arguing  from  fcrip- 
ture P  All  thofe  paflages  of  fcripture  which 
teach  us  to  make  the  glory  of  God  our  fupreme 
end — To  be  all  fubmiffion  to  his  will,  without 
making  any  exception,  and  to  love  our  neigh- 
bour as  ourfelves,  all  which  it  is  difficult  and 
o  2, 


l62  A  DIALOGUE. 

needlefs  to  mention,  do  prove  and  really  affert 
the  do£trine  I  have  affirmed. 

Befides,  I  have  introduced  the  exprefs  words 
of  Paul,  ttrongly  expreffing  this  to  be  his  wiih 
and  defire  with  refpect  to  himfelf,  might  this  be 
the  means  of  faving  his  brethren. 

The  words  of  Eli  exprefs  the  fame  fentiment, 

1  Sam.  iii.  18.  "  It  is  the  Lord  ;  let  him  do  tvhat 
feemeth  him  good"     This  he  fays  with  refpe£i  to 

God's  awful  threatening,  "  That  he  would  judge 
his  houfe  forever,  and  that  he  had  fworn  that 
the  iniquity  of  Eli's  houfe  fhould  not  be  purged 
with  facrifice  nor  offerings  forever.  An4  does 
not  David  exprefs  the  fame  thing  when  he  fays, 

2  Samuel  xv.  26.  "  But  if  he  thus  fay,  I  have 
no  pleafure  in  thee  :  behold,  here  am  I,  let  him 
do  to  me,  as  feemeth  good  unto  him."  Does 
he  net  refign  his  whole  intereft,  temporal  and 
eternal,  to  God's  pleafure,  without  making  any 
condition  ?  If  he  fay,  I  have  no  pleafure  in 
thee,  is  not  this  to  caft  him  off  forever  ?  "  Be- 
hold, here  I  am,  let  him  do  to  me  as  feemeth  good 
unto  him,"  How  could  he  exprefs  this  fentiment 
in  plainer  and  more  ftrong  language  ? 

Semi.  But  what  advantage  will  this  be  to  me, 
or  any  one  elfe  ?  If  it  be  true,  I  fee  not  that  it 
is  a  point  worth  contending  about,  or  what  will 
be  the  benefit  of  underftanding  and  believing  it. 

Calv.  I  may  afk  you,  fir,  what  benefit  there 
is  in  oppofing  it,  if  it  be  not  true  ?  It  is  rep- 
resented as  a  very  hurtful  and  wicked  do&rine  5 


A  DIALOGUE.  1 63 

and  if  I  am  not  miitaken,  you  confidered  it  in 
this  hght,  in  the  beginning  of  our  converfation 
upon  the  fubject.  In  this,  view,  you  thought 
it  of  importance  to  oppofe  it.  And  if  it  be  true, 
the  contrary  error  mull  be  as  wicked  and  hurt- 
ful, as  this  would  be,  were  it  not  true.  The 
truth  will  bear  examination,  and  ought  not  to  be 
given  up,  becaufe  fome  do  not  underftand  it,  and 
do  oppoie  it.  It  certainly  can  do  no  one  any 
hurt  to  believe  it ;  but  may  be  of  great  fervice, 
if  rightly  improved  ;  and  the  contrary  error,  I 
believe  to  be  of  a  very  bad  tendency.  Suffer  me 
to  illuftrate  this,  in  a  few  words — 

A  denial  of  this  truth,  and  molt  of  the  ar- 
guments to  fupport  fuch  denial,  do  mifreprefent 
the  nature  of  difmterefted  benevolence,  and  are 
really  a  denial  of  the  exigence,  of  any  fuch 
thing  :  And  it  is  fuppofed  that  felfifhnefs  is  jus- 
tifiable, and  not  oppofed  by  real  chriftianity  ; 
but  that  chriftians  are  warranted  to  a£r,  and  muit 
a£t.  from  felfifh  principles.  This,  I  think,  is 
evident,  from  what  has  been  faid  on  this  fubject, 
and  moft  of  the  objections  you  have  made. 
This  tends  to  give  a  wrong  idea  of  true  religion, 
and  to  encourage  profeffed  chriftians  in  the  in- 
dulgence of  a  felfifh  fpirit  ;  and  to  think  them- 
felves  chriftians,  while  their  feelings  and  exer- 
cifes,  are  in  direcT;  opposition  to  true  chriftianity  : 
And  this  way  of  thinking,  as  I  think,  difcov- 
ers  a  contra£tednefs  of  mind,  fo  it  tends  to  con- 
tract it  more  and  more,  and  to  fink  it  down  to  a 


164  A  DIALOGUE. 

narrow  And  low  way  of  thinking  and  acting,  con- 
trary to  that  enlargednefs  of  mind,  and  noble- 
nefs  of  foul,  with  which  real  chriflianity  infpires, 
and  which  is  implied  in  difmterefted  benevo- 
lence. 

And  it  is  implicitly  a  denial  of  the  eternal 
damnation  of  any  of  mankind.  For,  as  has 
been  obferved,  if  we  love  our  neighbour  as  our- 
felves,  which  is  necefiarily  implied  in  true  holi- 
nefs,  and  we  are  unwilling  to  be  damned  our- 
felves,  when  this  is  neceflary  to  anfwer  the  fame 
ends,  to  anfwer  which  they  are  damned  •,  then 
we  cannot  acquiefce  in  their  damnation  j  nor 
ought  any  in  heaven  or  earth  to  be  willing  that 
there  fhould  be  any  fuch  thing  as  damnation, 
«  Confequently,  there  cih  be  no  fuch  thing,  con- 
fiftently  with  the  inclination  of  any  holy  being. 
But  if  this  unwillingnefs  to  be  damned  ourfelves, 
when  this  is  as  neceflary  for  the  glory  of  God  and 
the  general  good,  as  that  any  of  our  feliow  men 
fhould  be  damned,  is  owing  to  felfifhnefs,  and 
an  exercife  of  that  affection  which  is  contrary  to 
loving  God  fupremely,  and  our  neighbour  as 
ourfelves  ;  then  this  juftifies  felfifhnefs,  as  has 
been  obferved,  and  juftifies  the  chriftian  in  avow- 
ing it,  as  a  good  and  holy  principle  ;  by  which 
he  is  willing  others  fhould  fuffer  that  for  the 
glory  of  God,  which  he  is  not  willing  to  fuffer 
were  it  neceflary  to  anfwer  the  fame  end  :  And, 
in  fhort,  cares  not  what  becomes  of  his  fellow 
men,  or  of  God's  honour,  if  he  can  but  be  fafe 


A  DIALOGUE.  165 

and  happy.  Surely  that  do&rine  which  em- 
braces and  fupports  one  of  thefe  alternatives,  and 
doe3  really  avow  the  latter,  and  juftifies  all  the 
felfifhnefs  in  the  world,  and  fuppofes  there  is  no 
fuch  thing  as  difinterefted  benevolence,  is  a  very 
dangerous  and  hurtful  doctrine,  and  tends  to 
root  all  true  religion  out  of  the  world. 

On  the  other  hand,  the  doctrine  which  I 
have  endeavoured  to  explain  and  vindicate, 
tends  to  the  advantage  of  chriftians  many  ways, 
which  advantages  naturally  come  into  view,  by 
attending  to  what  has  been  faid,  of  the  evil  con- 
fequences  of  the  oppofite  do£trine. 

It  is  fuited  to  enlarge  the  mind  of  the  chriftian, 
and  to  extend  his  ideas  and  thoughts  to  obje£ts 
which,  are  great  and  immenfe,  and  to  wake  up 
the  feelings  and  exercifes  of  difinterefted  benev- 
olence, of  fupreme  love  to  God,  and  regard  to 
the  general  good,  which  fwallows  up  and  for- 
3  his  own  perfonal  intereft,  as  nothing,  in 
comparifon  with  thefe  grand  objects.  This  will 
help  him,  in  the  bed  and  eafieft  manner  to  diftin- 
guifh  between  true  religion  and  falfe  :  and  to 
obtain,  and  maintain  the  evidence  in  his  own 
mind,  that  he  is  a  friend  to  God,  and  has  that 
benevolence  in  which  holinefs  does  fummarily 
confift. 

This  will  prepare  him  to  acquiefce  in  the 
eternal  deftruction  of  thofe  who  perifli,  and 
even  to  rejoice.in  it,  as  necefiary  for  the  glory  of 
Gcd,  and  the   greateft   good  of  the  whole*  in 


I 66  A  DIALOGUE. 

the  exercife  of  that  difinterefted  benevolence, 
which  makes  him  to  be  willing  to  be  one  of  that 
finful,  wretched  number,  wer£  this  neceffary  to 
anfv/er  thefe  ends. 

This  will  prevent  his  preaching,  or  talking  in 
thzt  felf/h  way  about  religion,  which  too  many 
miniiters,  and  others  do ;  or  indulging  felfifli 
affections,  under  the  notion  of  their  being  the 
exercife  of  true  religion. 

A  belief  of  this  doctrine,  and  exercifes  an- 
fwerable,  will  bring  and  keep  in  view,  true,  un- 
referved  refignation  to  the  will  of  God.  And  pre- 
vent his  deceiving  himfelf,  with  an  imagined 
refignation  which  is  not  true  refignation,  but 
the  exercife  of  wicked  felfifhnefs,  and  impie- 
ty ;  and  with  which  many  are  deceiving  them- 
felves.  For  inftance,  when  a  parent  loofes  a 
dear  and  only  child,  he  is  refigned,  and  willing 
hi;>  child  fnould  be  taken  from  him  by  death,  if 
Gcd  will  make  it  happy  forever.  This  condition 
fpoils  the  refignation,  and  it  exprefies  no  true 
regard  to  God,  but  only  a  regard  to  his  child  : 
which  the  moft  felfifh  parent  has,  as  well  as  the 
moft  benevolent.  So  one  who  thinks,  himfelf  a 
chriftian,  is  willing  to  be  poor  and  defpifed,  to* 
be  fick  and  fuffer  great  pain,  if  it  may  work  for 
his  goody  and  Gcd  will  make  him  eternally  happy  at 
la/ij  and  thinks  this  true  refignation,  and  that 
in  a  high  and  uncommon  degree.  Whereas  this 
is  not  real  refignation  to  the  will  of  God,  and 
exprefies  nothing  but  felfiflmefs,  in  making  God 


A  DIALOGUE.  167 

a  tool  to  anfwer  our  own  felfifli  etids.  He  will 
confent  that  God  mould  make  him  happy,  and 
anfwer  his  ends,  and  is  willing  to  be  in  his  hands 
on  no  other  condition.  This  exprefles  no  true 
regard  to  God,  or  the  general  good.  To  con- 
clude, the  chriftian  who  believes  this  truth,  and 
has  feelings  and  exercifes  anfwerable  to  it,  with 
pleafure  gives  himfelf  into  the  hands  of  God, 
and  rejoices  that  he  and  all  things  are  in  his 
hands,  and  that  he  will  glorify  himfelf  by  all 
men  either  in  their  falvation  or  damnation,  and 
fays,  to  God,  "  if  it  be  mod  for  thy  glory  that 
I  mould  be  caft  off,  thy  will  be  done,  "  Father 
glorify  thy  name."  I  have  no  condition  to  make, 
let  God  be  glorified,  and  his  kingdom  be  mod 
happy  and  glorious,  whatever  becomes  of  me." 
And  the  ftronger  and  more  clear  thefe  exercifes 
are,  the  greater  evidence  he  will  have,  when  he 
reflects  upon  them  ;  that  he  is  a  true  friend  to 
God,  and  that  it  is  moft  for  his  glory,  and  for 
the  greateft  general  good,  that  he  fhould  be  per- 
fectly holy  and  happy  in  his  kingdom  forever. 


END  OF  THE  DIALOGUE- 


A 

SERIOUS  ADDRESS, 

TO 

PROFESSING  CHRISTIANS, 

IN  THE  NAME,  AND  FROM  THE  WORDS  OF 
JESUS  CHRIST,  RECORDED 

REVELATION  Xvi.    15* 


REVELATION  Xvi.     15. 

"  Behold  I  come  as  a  thief.  Blessed  is  he  that 
watcheth,  and  keepeth  his  garments,  lest  he 
walk  naked,  and  they  see  his  shame." 

THE  warning,  exhortation  and  encourage- 
ment here  given,  by  Chrrft,  to  his  profeffed 
friends,  fuited  to  excite  them  to  attend  to  their 
duty  and  faithfulnefs  to  him  at  all  times,  are  ap- 
plicable to  them  in  whatever  circumftances  and 
age  of  the  world  they  have  lived,  fince  they 
were  published  :  But  are  more  efpecially  appli- 
cable to  thofe,  who  live  in  the  time  and  circum- 
ftances to  which  the  words  have  a  particular 
reference.  In  order  to  know  what  time  this  is, 
and  what  are  the  events  which  will  then  take 
place,  the  context  with  which  thefe  words  are 
connedlsd  mud  be  carefully  attended  to,  and 
underftood. 

Thefe  words  are  fpoken  by  Chrifl,  while  John 
is  narrating  the  events  which  were  to  take  place 
under  the  fixth  vial  while  it  was  running.  In  the 
midft  of  his  narration,  or  before  he  had  finifhed 
it,  he  is  interrupted,  and  Jefus  Chrift  fpeaks 
thefe  remarkable  and  important  words  ;  fo  that 
they  immediately  refpeft  the  events  contained  in 
the  fcene  which  was  opening  to  John.  In  this 
chapter  we  have  an  account  of  the  preceding 
vials  by  the  angels  to  whom  they  were  given. 
Thefe  feven  vials  or  cups  are  faid  to  be  full  of 


I72  AN  ADDRESS. 

the  wrath  of  God,  and  to  contain  the  feven  laft 
plagues  or  remarkable  judgments,  which  were  to 
be  inflicted  chiefly  on  the  bead  and  his  adherents  ; 
that  is,  the  Pope  and  the  hierarchy  of  the  church 
of  Rome,  his  fupporters  and  followers.  He 
was  to  continue  one  thoufand,  two  hundred  and 
fixty  years,  and  the fe  vials  contained  the  feveral 
fucceflive  calamities  and  judgments,  the  effects 
of  the  divine  wrath,  which  were  to  be  inflicted 
on  him  and  his  adherents  during  his  continuance; 
which,  in  the  events  under  the  laft  vial,  fhall 
complete  his  utter  deftrudtion.  If  the  time  of 
the  running  of  thefe  feven  vials,  be  computed  to 
take  up  or  comprehend  one  thoufand,  two  hun- 
dred and  fixty  years,  the  time  in  which  the  beafl 
is  to  continue,  each  vial  will  take  up  lefs  than 
two  hundred  years.  But  nothing  appears  to 
confine  the  time  of  each  vial  to  the  fame  num- 
ber of  years.  Some  of  the  vials  may  compre- 
hend more,  or  fewer  years  than  others,  accord- 
ing to  the  longer  or  fhorter  continuance  of  the 
calamitous  events,  which  they  reprefent  and  pre- 
dict. This  can  be  determined  beft  by  the  time 
and  duration  of  the  events,  which  have  come  to 
pafs,  and  were  predicted  under  the  vials  which 
have  been  poured  out.  A  number  of  able  ex- 
pofitors  who  have  carefully  confulted  the  mod 
learned,  and  credible  hiftorians  who  lived  in 
thofe  times,  have  made  it  evident,  that  the  events 
predicted  under  the  firft  four  vials  took  place 
before  the  reformation  from  popery  by  Luther 


AN  ADDRESS,  I  73 

and  Calvin,  which  began  near  the  beginning  of 
the  fixteenth  century.  "  The  fifth  vial  was 
poured  out  on  the  feat  (throne)  of  the  beait  \  and 
his  kingdom  was  full  of  darkneis,  a: 
gnawed  their  tongues  for  pain,  and  blafphemed 
the  God  of  heaven  becaufe  of  their  pains  and 
their  fores,  and  repented  not  of  their  deeds.1" 
When  the  reformers  arofe  and  declared  the  pope 
to  be  anti-chrift,  and  forfook  the  church  of 
Rome  as  not  the  true,  but  an  anti-chriitian 
church,  the  mother  of  harlots,  many  became 
their  followers,  and  embraced  their  doctrines. 
Men  in  high  office,  who  had  great  power  and 
influence,  joined  with  the  reformers  and  protect- 
ed them,  and  a  number  of  nations  and  king- 
doms renounced  the  pope  and  his  authority* 
By  this  his  throne,  his  power  and  influence, 
which  had  been  very  high,  great  and  univerfal, 
were  greatly  contracted  and  weakened,  arcl 
threatened  with  annihilation.  This  greatly 
alarmed  the  pope  and  his  party,  and  they  exeftecl 
all  their  power,  policy  and  cunning  to  fupprefs 
it,  and  deiiroy  the  chief  promoters  of  it.  And 
the  emperor  of  Germany  was  excited  and  per- 
fuaded,  with  all  his  power  and  the  forces  which 
could  be  raifed,  to  make  war  on  the  protefl ants  , 
but  he  was  defeated,  and  great  numbers  of  his 
followers  were  deftroyed  :  And  he  relinquished 
his  crown  and  office  and  fnut  himfelf  up  ict  ag 
cloifter,  and  fpent  the  remainder  of  his  days  inr 
dejection  and  a  painful  melancholy  and  gloom, 
p  a 


174  *N  ADDRESS. 

And  various  other  methods  were  taken  by  them 
to  deftroy  the  proteftants,  and  put  an  end  to  the 
reformation,  for  more  than  a  century  ;  but  they 
were  continually  defeated,  and  all  the  policy  and 
craft,  by  which  they  had  profpered,  and  by  which 
the  pope  had  been  exalted  to  univerfal  dominion, 
now  failed  them,  and  they  were  involved  in  po- 
litical darknefs,  and  the  painful  gloom  of  difap- 
pointment  and  defeat.  Thefe  were  wounds  and 
fores  v/hich  gave  them  unfpeakable  anguifh  and 
pain,  and  could  not  be  healed. 

And  they  repented  not  of  their  deeds,  and  op- 
pofed  all  reformation  in  dodtrine  and  practice. 
They  called  a  council  of  many  bifhops  and  infe- 
riour  clergy  under  a  pretence  of  healing  matters, 
which  fat  eighteen  years ;  but  were  fo  far  from 
doing  any  thing  towards  a  reformation,  that  they 
decreed  a  number  of  things  which  were  (till  more 
blafphemous  of  God  and  divine  truth.  This  vial 
was  running  till  near  the  end  of  the  feventeenth 
century. 

The  fixth  vial  probably  begun  to  be  poured 
out  at  the  latter  end  of  the  feventeenth  century 
or  at  the  beginning  of  the  eighteenth,  and  has 
been  running  all  the  laft  century,  is  running  now, 
and  will  continue  to  run  to  the  middle  of  the 
prefent,  if  not  longer.  Some  of  the  events, 
which  were  to  take  place  under  this  vial,  are 
defcribed  in   the   following  words.     «  And  the 


AN  ADDRESS.  \J$ 

fixth  angel  poured  out  his  vial  upon  the  great 
river  Euphrates  ;  and  the  water  thereof  was 
dried  up,  that  the  way  of  the  kings  of  the  eaft 
might  be  prepared."  In  order  to  underftand 
thefe  metaphorical,  typical  words,  it  muft  be 
obferved,  that  ancient  Babylon,  which  was  an 
enemy  to  the  vifible  people  of  God,  and  perse- 
cuted and  deftroyed  many  of  them,  and  Sub- 
jected the  remainder  to  a  ftate  of  grievous  cap- 
tivity for  Seventy  years,  until  it  was  taken  by  the 
eaftern  kings  of  the  Medes  and  Perfians,  was  a 
type  of  the  antichriflian  church  of  Rome. 
Therefore  this  church  with  its  appendages  is 
repeatedly  called  Babylon  in  this  book  of  Reve- 
lations. 

The  great  river  Euphrates  run  through  the 
midft  of  Babylon  entering  in  on  one  fide  of  it, 
and  pafling  out  on  the  other  Side  under  the 
walls  ;  and  was  a  defence  to  the  city,  and  by  it 
they  had  a  great  Supply  of  provifion.  Cyrus 
king  of  Perfia,  a£ting  in  conjunction  with  hu 
uncle  Darius  king  of  the  Medes,  took  the  city 
by  turning  the  water  of  the  river  into  another 
channel,  which  prepared  the  way  for  his  army 
to  march  in  under  the  walls  where  the  river  ufed 
to  run,  and  was  now  dried  up  :  in  this  way 
they  entered  the  city,  flew  the  king  and  chief 
men,  and  took  pofleflion  of  it,  which  iiuied  in 
its  final  deftru&ion. 


I76  AN  ADDRESS. 

The  prophecy  before  us  has  an  allufion  to  this 
type  and  figurative  reprefentation  in  predi&ing 
the  fall  of  Spiritual  Babylon,  and  the  manner  in 
which  it  was  to  be  effe£ted.  By  drying  up  the 
river  Euphrates  is  meant  the  removal  or  diminu- 
tion of  whatever  has  been  the  great  and  chief 
fupport  of  the  pope,  and  the  church  of  which 
he  is  the  head.  And  this  chiefly  confifts  in  the 
ftrength  and  power  which  he  has  in  various  ways, 
and  by  different  inftruments,  obtained,  efpecially 
by  the  ftream  of  money  and  riches  which  have 
been  made,  by  various  means,  to  flow  into 
that  church  for  many  agesrfrom  all  parts  of  chrif- 
tendom.  This  ftream  has  been  in  a  confiderable 
meafure  dried  up  in  the  laft  century,  by  the  na- 
tions withholding  much  of  the  money  which  ufed 
to  flow  into  that  church  like  a  great  river,  and 
turning  it  into  another  channel.  And  the  or- 
der and  fociety  of  Jefuits,  which  has  been  a 
ftrong  pillar  and  fupport  of  that  church  many 
ways,  has  been  demoliflied  and  taken  away  in 
the  laft  century.  And  what  has  been  done  in 
the  latter  part  of  that  century  in  pulling  down 
and  impoveriihing  the  pope  and  the  church  of 
Rome,  by  which  it  has  fallen  almoft  to  the 
ground,  is  notorious  to  all. 

By  the  kings  of  the  Eaft  are  meant  all  thofe, 
in  whatever  part  of  the  world  they  live,  and  who- 
ever they  are,  who  are  enemies  to  the  fpiritual 
Babylon;  and  feek  to  pull  down  and  deftroy  it, 


AN  ADDRESS.  177 

typified  by  the  kings  of  the  eaft,  who  fought  a- 
gainft  and  fubdued  the  ancient,  literal  Babylon. 

The  late  revolution  in  France,  by  which  the 
church  of  Rome  is  again  introduced  there  by 
an  agreement  between  the  chief  conful  and  the 
pope,  at  a  firft  and  fuperficial  view,  may  appear 
to  be  a  revival  of  the  caufe  of  that  church,  and 
a  (lep  toward  the  pope's  rifing  to  his  former 
height.  But  when  the  fubje<3:  is  carefully  exam- 
ined it  will  doubtlefs  appear  otherwife.  The 
chief  conful  really  claims,  and  has  obtained  the 
power  in  France,  and  in  other  ftates,  over  which 
he  claims  a  jurifdi£tion,  which  the  pope  ufed 
to  claim  ;  and  the  latter  is  only  made  a  tool 
by  the  former,  to  anfwer  his  own  ambitious  pur- 
pofes.  It  may  foon  appear  that  this  event  was 
the  only  proper  ftep  to  effe£t  the  utter  ruin  of 
the  pope  and  of  that  church.  Be  that  as  it  may, 
we  are  fure  that  this  fpiritual  Babylon  will  fall  to 
the  ground  under  the  vial  which  is  now  running, 
and  the  fueceeding  one,  and  that  all  the  fucceed- 
ing  events  will  iffue  in  its  utter  overthrow,  though 
the  particular  fteps  which  will  be  taken  to  effect 
this,  cannot  be  known  and  defcribed,  as  they  are 
future,  any  farther  than  they  are  revealed  in 
fcripture  prophecy. 

There  is  a  prophecy  in  the  book  of  Daniel, 
w'nich  illuftrates  the  cafe  before  us.  In  defcrib- 
ing  the  fourth  beaft,  which  now  confifls  of  the 


178  AN  ADDB.ESS, 

pope  and  the  hierarchy  of  the  church  of  Rome, 
he  fays,  "  And  whereas  thou  faweft  the  feet  and 
toes,  part  of  potters  clay,  and  part  of  iron,  the 
kingdom  fhail  be  divided.  And  as  the  toes  of 
the  feet  were  part  of  iron,  and  part  of  clay,  fo 
the  kingdom  (hall  be  partly  ftrong,  and  partly 
broken.  And  whereas  thou  faweil  iron  mixt 
with  miry  clay,  they  (hall  mingle  themfelves  with 
the  feed  of  men  :  But  they  fhall  not  cleave  one 
to  another,  even  as  iron  is  not  mixed  with  clay." 

This  prophecy  has  doubtlefs  been  fulfilled  in 
other  inftances,  but  is  eminently  fo  in  the  concor- 
date  between  the  chief  conful  of  France  and  the 
pope,  in  which  the  latter  attempts  to  unite  with 
the  feed  of  men,  the  men  of  the  world,  who  are 
apparent  infidels  and  real  enemies  to  chriilianity, 
even  as  it  confifts  in  popery,  unlefs  when  they 
can  anfwer  their  own  ends  by  it.  By  this  the 
pope  has  not  ftrengthened,  but  weakened  his 
caufe,  and  prepared  the  way  to  be  dafhed  in 
pieces,  by  the  ftone  cut  out  of  the  mountain 
without  hands  ;  to  be  deilroyed  by  Chrift. 

John  goes  on  to  relate  what  he  further  faw 
in  vifion  as  taking  place  under  this  fixth  vial. 
"  And  I  faw  three  unclean  fpirits  like  frogs  come 
out  of  the  mouth  of  the  dragon,  and  out  of  the 
mouth  of  the  bead,  and  out  of  the  mouth  of 
the  falfe  prophet.  For  they  are  the  fpirits  of 
devils,    working   miracles  -  (or    doing    w onders) 

■ 


AN  ADDRESS.  1  79 

which  go  forth  unto  the  kings  of  -the  earth,  and 
of  the  whole  world,  to  gather  them  to  the  battle  of 
that  great  day  of  God  Almighty."  While  the 
beait  and  the  hierarchy  of  the  falfe  church  of 
Rome,  here  called  the  falfe  prophet,  who  is  elfe 
where  defcribed  as  the  great  harlot,  fitting  on  the 
bead,  who  is  the  mother  of  harlots,  and  abomi- 
nations of  the  earth  •,  while  thefe  are  finking  and 
expiring,  they,  in  conjunction  with  the  old  drag- 
on, the  devil,  who  had  been  the  great  invifible 
agent  in  fetting  them  up  and  fupporting  them, 
and  by  whom  they  were  always  infpired,  emit  a 
filthy  fpawn,  a  moft  mifchievous  progeny,  which 
are  no  other  than  the  fpirits  of  devils,  which 
rufli  forth  to  the  kings  of  the  earth,  and  the  in- 
habitants of  the  whole  world,  to  corrupt  the 
world,  and  promote  all  manner  of  wickednefs 
in  principle  and  practice,  in  rebellion  againft 
Chriit  and  his  gofpel.  And  in  doing  this  they 
will  effect  wonderful  events,  which  were  not  ex- 
pected, and  never  had  been  in  fuch  a  manner 
and  degree.  By  this  they  will  arm  mankind  in 
general,  efpecially  thofe  in  the  chriftian  world, 
againft  God  and  the  Redeemer,  and  unite  and 
gather  them  to  the  battle  of  that  great  day  of 
God  Almighty.  The  beafl  and  harlot  will  live 
in  theie  times,  and  not  become  extintt  till  this 
battle  comes  on. 

This  gathering  to  the  battle,  does  not  mean  a 
local  collection  into  one  place  ;_J>ut  a 

\*4 


J80  AN  1DDRESS. 

agreement  among  the  nations,  to  oppofe  Jefus 
Chrift  and  the  gofpel,  in  principle  and  practice, 
and  thus  arming  themfelves  againft  God,  by 
which  they  will  be  prepared  for  the  battle,  which 
will  not  confift  in  any  particular  combat  with 
carnal  weapons,  between  chriflians  and  thofe 
who  oppofe  them  :  but  in  the  judgments  and 
deftru£tion,  which  God  will  infli£t  on  the  open 
and  incorrigible  enemies  of  Chrift  and  his  church, 
by  which  they  and  their  caufe  will  be  amply  vin- 
dicated and  avenged,  and  deferved  wrath  and 
vengeance  will  be  inflicted  on  their  enemies,  to 
the  uttermoft.  This  battle  will  commence  in 
the  fulnefs  of  it  when  the  feventh  vial  fhall  be 
poured  out,  when  by  the  events  which  take*  place 
under  the  fixth  vial :  the  body  of  the  inhabitants 
of  the  world  will  be  ripened  for  the  punifliment 
and  vengeance  by  which  they  (hall  be  deftroyed  ; 
which  battle  is  defcribed  in  the  latter  part  of  this, 
and  the  nineteenth  chapters. 

While  thefe  evil  fpirifcs  are  doing  their  work 
and  are  ufing  all  their  influence  to  arm  wicked 
men  and  unite  them  againft  Chrift,  he  ftands 
forth  and  fpeaks  in  the  words  now  under  con- 
fideration  ;  and  certainly  fpeaks  them  with  ref- 
erence to  the  events  predi&edin  this  vifion,  ref- 
lecting this  battle,  and  the  events  preparatory 
to, it  •,  and  therefore  are  fpoken  to  thofe  profeffing 
chriftians  who  live  in  thefe  days,  as  a  warning, 
direction  and  encouragement  to  them,    And  if 


# 


AN  ADDRESS.  l8l 

we  live  in  the  very  time  pointed  out  in  this  vifion, 
it  concerns  us  to  know  it,  and  earneitly  attend 
to,  and  confcientioufly  improve  thefe  words  of 
Chrift,  as  the  only  way  to  be  fafe  and  bleffed. 

It  becomes  chriftians  to  difcern  and  know  the 
figns  of  the  times  in  which  they  live  :  To  attend 
to  the  events  of  divine  providence  compared  with 
fcripture  ;  with  difcerning  and  judgment  to  view 
the  ftate  of  religion  and  morality  in  the  world, 
fo  far  as  they  are  under  advantages  to  extend  their 
knowledge  of  thefe  important  concerns.  And 
they  have  opportunity,  which  they  ought  dili- 
gently to  improve,  to  compare  the  circumflances 
and  particular  events  of  the  times,  in  which 
they  live  with  the  prophetic  paj£  of  fcripture, 
to  find,  if  they  can,  with  a  degree  of  fatisfac- 
tion  and  certainty,  the  agreement  of  the  events 
which  are  before  their  eyes,  with  the  predictions 
of  fcripture  ;  and,  hereby  learn  what  is  their 
particular  duty,  and  what  is  come  and  coming 
in  the  world,  as  it  refpefts  the  moral  corruption 
and  confequent  mifery  Gf  mankind,  and  the  de- 
prefled  ftate  of  chriftianity,  and  the  final  victo- 
ry it  (hall  obtain. 

That  we  live  in  the  time  when  the  fixth  vial  is 
poured  out,  which  has  been  running  during  the 
laft  century,  or  longer,  is  eviden^oom  fcripture 
prophecy,  as  has  been  obferveowend  is  abun- 
dantly confirmed  and   rendered   certain  by   tht 


?82  AX  ADDRESS. 

events  which  have  taken  place  in  the  laft  century, 
and  are  now  coming  to  pafs  before  our  eyes ; 
which  were  predicted  under  this  vial.  The 
river  Euphrates,  agreeable  to  the  explication  now 
given,  has  been  drying  up  for  many  years,  and 
church  of  Rome  is  impoverifhed  and  weak- 
ened many  ways,  by  which  the  way  has  been 
opened  for  her  enemies,  whoever  and  wherever 
hey  be,  to  alTault  and  deftroy  her,  and  fhe  has 
iunk  in  a  manner  which  never  took  place  before, 
as  has  been  obferved.  And  while  this  old  har- 
lot, who  is  the  mother  of  all  the  abominations  in 
the  earth,  who  rides  on  the  beaft,  fupported  by 
the  old  dragon  the  devil,  is  falling  and  expiring, 
they  three,  join  to  emit  and  fend  forth  evil  Tpirits 
like  themfelves,  which  muft  therefore  be  fpirits 
of  devils,  which  go  forth  to  corrupt  the  world, 
fo  as  to  arm  the  peq^le  in  general  again  ft  God, 
in  a  ftate  of  open  and  high  rebellion  againft  the 
Redeemer.  And  is  not  all  this  now  taking  place, 
which  began  many  years  ago,  and  is  now  in- 
creafmg  in  a  remarkable  and  rapid  progrefs  ?  Let 
chriftians,  who  have  difcerning  to  know  the 
times,  attend  and  judge. 

In  the  laft  century  there  has  been  a  greater 
fpread  and  prevalence  of  error,  infidelity,  and 
all  kinds  of  immorality  and  wickednefs,  than 
was  ever  befo^^ncwn  ;  and  that  in  a  manner 
and  by  meaiiffew  and  ftrange.  Men  of  great 
id  *lean 


abilities  and  yarning  have  rifen  up  champions 


AN  ADDRESS  183 

for  infidelity,  and  confequently  for  vice  and  im- 
morality. And  fecret  focieties  have  been  formed 
and  combined  to  do  every  thing  in  their  po\* 
to  put  an  end  to  chriftianity,  and  every  irtftitu- 
tion  that  would  lay  any  rcftraint  on  their  lufls. 
To  this  end  they  fpread  their  emiilaries  wherever 
there  is  a  profpeft  of  the  gaining  profelytes. 
They  introduce  themfelves  and  their  difciples  as 
teachers  of  fchools,  and  into  colleges,  and  the 
courts  of  princes  and  kings,  to  profelyte  as  many 
of  the  great  as  they  can.  They  have  been  de- 
tected, and  their  doctrines  and  fchemes  have 
been  expofed  to  the  public  ;  but  this  has  not 
difcouraged  them  ;  and  through  the  connivance 
of  the  great  and  obfequioufnefs  of  the  multi- 
tude, they  have  gone  on  to  practife  and  profper. 
In  their  unwearied  exertions  and  attempts  they 
turned  their  attention  particularly  to  France,  and 
were  fo  fuccefsful  as  to  influence  a  great  part  of 
the  leading  men  there,  and  a  number  in  the 
kings  court  to  embrace  their  principles  and 
fcheme,  which  produced  a  revolution  in  that  na- 
tion, by  which  Chriftianity  and  all  the  institu- 
tions of  it  were  abolifhed,  and  infidelity  intro- 
duced in  the  room  of  it  :  In  the  prefence  of  the 
National  Convention,  a  man  of  note  arofe  and 
declared  he  was  an  atheift,  that  there  was  no 
God  but  liberty,  &c.  which  gained  the  appro- 
bation and  loud  applaufe  of  the  whole  conven- 
tion. And  a  number  of  priefts  appeared  in  the 
hall  of  the  convention,  and  eaftj^the  garments 


1 84  AN  ADDRESS. 

and  the  badges  of  their  facerdotal  office,  and 
thus  publicly  in  this  contemptuous  manner  re- 
nounced chriftianity  ;  afcd  in  a  literal  fenfe  and 
mod  exprefsly  put  off  their  chriftian  garments 
themfelves  inftead  of  keeping  them.  The  lead-' 
ers  in  this  fcheme,  in  their  endeavours  to  over- 
throw chriftianity,  efpoufe  and  propagate  among 
their  difciples  this  maxim,  "  that  any  means  ne*- 
ceffary  or  tending  to  promote  a  good  end,  cannot 
be  wrong,  but  muft  be  right  and  commendable." 
Hence,  as  they  propofe  the  total  abolition  of  chrif- 
tianity, as  neceflkry  for  the  happinefs  of  man- 
kind and  of  their  own,  and  therefore  the  higheft 
and  beft  end,  they  confider  any  means  which 
they  can  practife,  and  in  their  view  are  fuited  to 
anfwer  this  end,  to  be  right  and  laudable.  Con- 
fequently,  when  the  groffeft  hypocrify^fraud,  ly- 
ing, cheating,  murder,  and  even  f^lf-murder,  or 
any  vice  which  can  be  mentioned,  are  in  their 
view  neceffary  or  needful  to  anfwer  this  end  they 
are  to  be  pra£tifed,  without  the  lead  remorfe  of 
conference.  Therefore  when  they  think  it  the 
beft  way  for  them  to  injure  chriftianity,  they 
will  appear  zealous  advocates  for  it,  and  af 
and  deny  any  thing,  however  contrary  to  the 
truth,  when  they  think  it  will  anfwer  their  ends. 
There  have  been  volumes  written  in  Europe  by 
ti,  whofe  learning,  knowledge  and  veracity 
cannot  be  reasonably  queftioned,  who  have  de- 
leted and  abundantly  proved  thefe  things,  and 
many  more  gqA  immoralities  to  be  practifed  and 


AN  ADDRESS.  I  3j 

promoted  by  the  leaders  in  this  iniquitous  icheme 
to  crufh  chriftianity. 

While  infidelity  has  fpread  in  Europe,  vice 
and  grofs  immorality  have  kept  pace  with  it. 
In  France  efpecially,  thefe  prevail  to  an  extent 
and  degree  never  known  before.  This  is  f up- 
ported  by  the  moil  credible  teftimony.  And  as 
far  as  their  armies  have  carried  their  conquefts, 
which  have  been  rapid  and  extenfive,  they  have 
fpread  the  principles  of  infidelity,  and  the  prac- 
tice of  immorality  to  a  degree  never  known  before 
fince  chriftianity  was  received  by  thofe  natio 
This  is  abundantly  tefhified  by  the  learned  and 
pious  in  Europe.  And  multitudes  of  thofe, 
who  do  not  profefiedly  renounce  chriftianity, 
embrace  thofe  dodtrines  which  are  fo  contrary 
to  the  gofpel,  as  to  lead  to  infidelity,  and  really 
are  no  better!  While  the  multitude  of  common 
people  are  funk  into  vice,  careleiTnefs  about  re- 
ligion, and  ignorance  of  the  nature  and  true 
doctrines  of  it.  Can  any  one  who  takes  a  prop- 
er and  attentive  view  of  all  this,  doubt  that  ths 
evil  fpirits,  the  fpirits  of  devils  have  been  let 
loofe  with  an  extraordinary  commiffion  to  cor- 
rupt mankind,  efpecially  the  chriftian  world, 
during  the  lad  century,  and  are  ft  ill  progrefling, 
with  uncommon  power  and  rapidity,  agreeable 
to  the  prophecy  before  us  ? 

America  has  not  efcaped  the  fangs   of  thefe 


I  86  AN  ADDRESS. 

unclean  fpirits  of  devils.  There  are  traces  and 
fruits  of  their  operation,  which  mud  be  ftriking- 
ly  vifible  to  all  who  do  not  wilfully  fhut  their 
eyes.  There  was  indeed  a  remarkable  and  gen- 
eral attention  to  religion  in  America,  particular- 
ly in  New-England  about  the  middle  of  the  laft 
century  ;  and  a  number  were  hopefully  conver- 
ted. But  a  great  part  of  the  profefled  fubjetts 
of  this  revival  were  fo  imprudent  and  irregular 
in  their  converfation  and  condudt  ;  and  fo  many 
apoftatized  to  error,  irreligion  and  vice,  that, 
on  the  whole  it  tended  to  ftrengthen  the  prejudi- 
ces of  many  againft  religion,  and  was  the  means 
of  leading  many  to  infidelity,  under  the  in  vifible 
influence  of  fatan.  Since  that,  infidelity,  irre- 
ligion and  vice  have  increafed,  but  the  firft  of 
thefe  not  fo  openly  but  in  a  great  meafure  fecret- 
ly  and  under  cover.  But  in  the  latter  part  of  the 
laft  century  many  European  infidels  were  intro- 
duced to  America,  who  difieminated  their  infi- 
del principles  by  converfation,  and  fpreading 
books  written  againft  divine  revelation.  One 
man  in  Europe  wrote  a  pamphlet  againft  the 
bible,  which  is  reprinted  and  fpread  in  America, 
and  was  read  with  avidity  by  multitudes,  both 
youth  and  others  ;  and  gave  a  turn  in  their  igno- 
rant and  already  vitiated  minds  in  favour  of  infi- 
delity. And  a  number  of  books  and  pamphlets 
have  been  publifned  againft  chriftianity,  and  in 
favour  of  deifm  and  atheifcn  which  are  fpreading 
and  highly  approved   by  many.     And   focieties 


Atf  ADDRESS.  I  87 

are  formed  compofed  of  infidels,  who-  are  affid- 
uous  in  doing  all  they  can  fecretly,  and  by  any 
means  in  their  power,  to  difcredit  and  root  out 
chriflianity  and  all  religion  and  morality.  This 
is  a  wonderful  and  in  fome  fenfe  and  degree  a 
miraculous  event.  That  in  a  chriftian  land, 
where  the  body  of  the  people  were  friendly  to 
chriflianity  there  fnould  be  fuch  a  great  and  fud- 
den  change  in  favour  of  infidelity,  and  fuch 
great  and  unwearied  exertions  to  promote  it,  in 
a  manner  and  degree  which  never  were  experien- 
ced before  in  the  chriftian  world.  It  cannot  be 
accounted  for,  but  by  fuppofing  it  to  be  produ- 
ced by  that  invifible  agency  of  evil  fpirits  on  the 
corrupt  hearts  of  men,  which  is  in  the  prophecy 
before  us,  predicted  to  take  place  at  this  time  ; 
and  is  a  certain  and  undeniable  evidence  that 
this  prophecy  is  now  fulfilling  ;  and  is  therefore 
a  demonflration  of  the  truth  of  chriflianity, 
which  infidelity  is  attempting  to  deflroy.  And 
that  though  it  may  feem  for  a  time  to  prevail,  it, 
with  the  promoters  of  it,  will  foon  and  unex- 
pectedly be  deflroyed,  and  chriflianity  will 
revive,  profper  and  triumph. 

It  is  proper  to  attend  to  fome  other  things  not 
only  as  a  further  evidence,  if  needed,  that  thefe 
fpirits  of  devils  are  now  among  us,  and  produ- 
cing great  effe&s  before  our  eyes  •,  but  that  they 
are  making  rapid  progrefs  and  have  not  yet  fin- 
iflied,  but  have  only  begun  their  work      There 


1 88  AN  ADDRESS. 

are  a  number  of  circumftances  and  events  taking 
place  favourable  to  the  caufe  of  infidelity  and 
vice,  and  leading  to  the  progrefs  of  theSe,  which 
it  is  not  prudent  or  needful  particularly  to  men- 
tion •,  which  are  in  the  full  view  of  thofe  chriS- 
tians  who  have  their  eyes  open.  There  is  an 
apparent  general  decay  and  negleQ:  of  religion 
among  thole  who  do  not  in  words  exprefsly 
renounce  chriftianity,  but  think  themfelves 
friends  to  it.  There  is  a  prevailing  indifference 
and  careleflhefs  about  religion,  and  conSequent- 
ly  ignorance  of  the  nature  and  doftrines  of  it. 
The  churches  are  generally  fmall,  by  far  the 
greater  part  of  the  people  negle£t  to  join  them. 
And  many,  if  not  moft  of  the  members  of 
churches  are  luke  warm  •,  ignorant  or  erroneous* 
if  not  immoral  ;  and  the  discipline  of  moft 
churches  is  very  lax,  if  not  wholly  laid  afide. 
The  Sabbath  is  neglected  and  profaned  as  it  nev- 
er was  before,  efpecially  in  New-England  :  and 
public  worfhip  is  greatly  negledted  ;  and  family 
religion  is  generally  and  almoft  univerfally  laid 
afide,  and  parental  government,  and  religious 
education  and  inftru&ion  of  their  children  and 
domeftics,  have  almoft  wholly  ceafed.  Conse- 
quently a  general  ignorance  in  religion,  and  the 
practice  of  vice  take  place.  Some  of  the  impor- 
tant truths  of  the  gofpel  are  neglected  and  oppo- 
fed,  and  many  errors  imbibed,  which  really 
Subvert  the  gofpel,  and  have  a  diredl  and  ftrong 
tendency  to  infidelity  and  atheifm,  as  may,  per- 
haps, be  more  particularly   confidered  hereafter. 


AA  ADDRESS.  189 

In  this  fituation  of  affairs,  public  and  private, 
there  is  a  ftrong  tendency  to  univerfal  infidelity 
and  atheifm  :  and  we  are  ripening  fafl  for  it.  If 
God  do  not  prevent ;  to  which  mercy  we  have 
no  claim  :  but  rather  are  provoking  him  to 
give  us  up  to  the  lufts  of  our  hearts,  to  run  on 
to  the  mod  grofs  infidelity,  and  all  manner  and 
degrees  of  vice  and  wickednefs,  which  will 
introduce  great  temporal  mifery  and  wretched- 
nefs,  and  bring  on  utter  and  eternal  deftruction. 
And  they  who  will  keep  their  chriflian  garments 
will  fuffer  fhame  and  reproach,  and  innumera- 
ble other  evils,  and  it  may  be  the  moft  cruel 
death  that  evil  men  can  invent  and  inflict. 

All  things  will  go  fafl  on  to  this  iflue,  unlefs 
prevented  by  the  interpofition  of  divine  power 
and  grace,  which  we  are  fure  will  not  be  done 
till  mankind  in  general  are  refolutely  and  fully 
armed  againft  Chrift,  prepared  for  the  battle, 
and  ripe  for  definition,  from  the  prophecy  un- 
der confideration.  How  long  time  this  is  yet  to 
take,  none  can  with  precifion  tell.  It  will  con- 
tinue till  the  fixth  vial  is  expended,  which,  as 
has  been  obferved,  will  yet  run,  moft  probably, 
for  half  a  century,  or  more.  But  it  is  worthy 
obfervation,  that  the  vials  may  not  be  fo  perfectly 
diftin£l,  as  to  wholly  run  out  before  the  next,  in 
a  meafure,  begins.  Under  the  feventh  vial  the 
great  battle  which  Jefus  Chrift  will  carry  on 
againft  fatan  and  a  wicked  world   armed  againft 


I9O  AN  ADDRESS. 

him,  will  come  on  in  the  full  ftrength  of  it,  and 
will  continue,  till  by  die  expreffions  of  the  di- 
vine anger,  in  inflidting  various  and  dreadful 
fucceffive  judgments,  of  which  no  particular, 
and  full  description  can  now  be  given  \  or  any 
adequate  idea  be  formed  of  them,  till  they  {hall 
take  place,  the  obftinately  wicked  mall  be  de- 
ftroyed  and  fwept  from  off  the  earth,  having 
drank  the  dregs  of  this  dreadful  cup  which  is 
in  the  hand  of  the  Lord,  and  wrung  them  out 
[Pfalm  Ixxv.  8.]  But  fome  drops  of  this  vial 
may  fall  upon  the  world,  in  fome  parts  of  it, 
before  the  time  is  come  to  pour  it  out  without 
reftraint  or  mixture,  and  before  the  events  pre- 
dicted under  the  fixth  vial  are  finifhed,  but 
while  that  vial  is  yet  running.  Sore  calamities 
and  awful  deftru&ions,  may  be  inflifted  in  many 
places,  and  at  different  times,  as  a  teftimony  of 
die  difpleafure  of  God  with  the  wickednefs  of 
men,  and  a  warning  to  the  world  of  the  greater 
calamities  and  certain  definition  which  are 
coming  on  mankind,  unlefs  they  repent.  The 
great  and  remarkable  calamities  which  have  been 
lately  felt  in  France  and  other  parts  of  Europe, 
while  infidelity  and  wickednefs  have  been  in- 
creafing  and  fpreading,  maybe  confidered  to  be 
of  this  kind,  and  as  a  warning  to  the  world, 
and  to  the  United  States  of  America  in  particu- 
lar. And  as  great,  if  not  more  dreadful  judg- 
ments will  doubtlefs  be  inflifted  on  thefe  ftates 
before  the  fixth  vial  is  ended,  as  a  warning  and 
call  to  repentance. 


AN  ADDRESS.  IpJ 

It  is  doubtlefs  thought  by  fome  profeffing 
chriftians  that  the  above  reprefentation  of  the 
ftate  of  religion,  and  the  profpe£l  with  refpeft 
to  it  in  America,  is  not juft.  There  have  been 
lately  remarkable  revivals  of  religion  in  many 
places  and  parts  of  the  United  States,  and  great 
numbers  hopefully  converted,  and  a  number  of 
deifts  have  renounced  their  infidelity  and  become 
chriftians.  And  not  a  few  men  of  judgment 
and  obfervation  have  thought  that  religion  is  rath- 
er in  a  progreffive  ftate  than  otherwife. 

Upon  this  it  is  obferved,  that  there  is  reafon 
of  much  thankfulnefs  that  there  have  been  fa 
many  remarkable  revivals  of  religion  of  late, 
and  that  fuch  a  number  have  been  hopefully  con- 
verted. But  this  number  is  prefumed  to  be 
much  lefs  than  the  reft  of  the  inhabitants  of  moft, 
if  not  all,  of  the  places  where  thefe  revivals  have 
taken  place  ;  and  when  compared  with  the  num- 
ber of  inhabitants  of  thefe  ftates  it  will  appear 
that  thefe  converts  bear  but  a  very  fmall  pro- 
portion to  the  whole,  and  thofe  which  make  the 
body  of  the  people  have  in  general  received  no 
benefit  by  thefe  revivals,  but  the  contrary  :  They 
are  more  hardened  in  impenitence,  vice  and  in- 
fidelity ;  fo  that  there  may  be  and  doubtlefs  is  an 
increafe,  on  the  whole,  of  infidelity  and  wick- 
ednefs,  notwithftanding  thefe  revivals.  Jefus 
Chrift  will  have  and  maintain  his  church  in  the 
midft  of  the  greateft  oppofition  to  it,  and  in  or« 


IQ2  AH  ADDRESS, 

der  to  this  fmners  mud  be  converted,  more  or 
lefs,  and  raifed  up  as  witneffes  to  his  truth  and 
caufe.  And  thefe  revivals  are  a  warning  and 
loud  call  to  all  the  people  to  repent,  whether  they 
will  hear  or  not.  In  the  mean  time,  there  is 
no  evidence  that  they  will  increafe  or  continue. 

It  is  alfo  fuppofed  by  fome  that  the  caufe  of 
infidelity  is  rather  on  the  decline  in  this  nation, 
and  that  difbelievers  now  think  more  favourably 
of  chriftianity  than  they  did  fometime  ago,  as 
they  are  lefs  open,  bold  and  noify  in  oppofition 
to  it,  than  they  were  :  and  fome  of  them  fpeak 
in  favour  of  it  at  times. 

To  this  it  may  be  replied,  that  fuch  a  change 
of  difbelievers,  in  appearance  and  conduct,  may 
not  be  the  leaft  evidence  that  they  are  really  more 
friendly  to  the  gofpel,  as  a  revelation  from  heav- 
en, than  they  have  been,  or  that  their  caufe  is 
on  the  decline  and  does  not  increafe  in  ftrength 
and  numbers.  This  may  be  in  their  view,  the 
bell  way  they  can  take  to  fupport  their  caufe  and 
carry  on  their  fcheme,  and  they  will  turn  into 
any  fhape,  and  fay  any  thing  which  they  think 
will  beft  anfwer  this  end,  as  has  been  obferved. 
Befides,  in  the  political  conteft  which  now  fub- 
fifts  in  the  United  States,  in  both  parties  of  which 
there  are  doubtlefs  difbelievers  i&  divine  revela- 
tion, there  are  a  variety  of  circumflances,  which 
need  not  be   mentioned,  which  do  operate  as  a 


AN  ADDRESS.  I93 

reftraint  upon  infidels  in  different  ways  who  are 
on  either  fide  to  produce  the  effett  mentioned, 
confidently  with  their  being  as  much  engaged  as 
ever  in  the  caufe  of  infidelity,  -and  their  profpe& 
of  fuccefs. 

The  foregoing  has  been  defigned  to  point  out 
the  figns  of  this  time,  and  to  (how  that  the  Sa- 
viour has  particular  reference  to  the  events  which 
are  now  taking  place  before  our  eyes,  and  others 
which  are  foon  to  follow,  in  his  words  under 
confideration  ;  and  that,  therefore,  they  arc 
fpoken,  in  a  particular  and  fpecial  manner  to 
thofe  profefled  chriftians,  who  are  now  on  the 
ftage  of  life,  and  to  all  of  this  denomination 
who  fhall  live  before  the  feventh  vial  fhall  be 
poured  out. 

The  following  will  confift  in  an  explanation  of 
thefe  words,  and  a  practical  improvement  of 
them,  fuited  to  excite  the  attention  of  all  pro- 
fefled friends  of  chriftianity  to  the  warning, 
threat,  command,  encouragement  and  promife 
contained  in  them,  and  to  induce  them  to  re- 
gard and  pra&ife  what  is  here  recommended  by 
the  glorious  head  of  the  church  as  the  only  way 
to  fafety  and  happinefs. 

"  Behold,  I  come  as  3  thief."  This  is  intro- 
duced with  a  note  of  attention.  Behold  !  Thte 
denotes  that  what  Chrift  is  going  to  fpeak  is  of 


AN  ADDRESS. 

gffcat  importance,  and  demands  the  ferious  and 
clofe  attention  of  all  who  have  ears  to  hear. 
The  coming  of  Chrifl  is  often  fpoken  of  in 
fcripture,  and  intends  various  and  different  times 
and  manners  of  his  coming  ;  and  he  is  often 
laid  to  come  as  a  thief,  to  denote  not  the  end  of 
coming,  but  the  circumltances  and  manner 
of  his  coming.  The  thief  comes  to  do  mifchief 
and  ileal.  Chrifl  comes  to  accompliih  the  wifefl 
'  and  beft  ends.  And  though  he  often  comes  in 
judgment,  to  inflift  evil,  yet  he  never  injures 
any,  and  he  always  defigns  kindnefs  and  mercy 
to  his  church.  But  he  comes  as  a  thief,  that  is 
unperceived,  and  while  his  coming  is  not  thought 
of  by  the  men  of  the  world,  and  by  all  who  are 
spiritually  afleep  whether  profeffing  chriflians  or 
not.  His  coming  is  perceived  and  realized  by 
none  but  thofe  who  are  awake  and  on  the 
watch. 

The  coming  of  Chrifl  here  feems  to  compre- 
hend two  events  which  are  nearly  connefted 
together,  and  in  fome  fenfe  one,  viz.  the  gath- 
ering of  the  people  to  the  battle  by  the  influence 
of  evil  fpirits  ;  and  his  coming  to  the  battle,  and 
carrying  it  on  till  it  is  finimed.  Chrifl  really 
comes  by  and  with  his  enemies,  when  they  rife, 
oppofe  and  attempt  to  deflroy  his  church.  He 
fuperintends  and  diredls  the  whole,  and  his  hand 
and  prefence  is  to  be  feen  in  all  the  tranfa£lions 
and  events  which  are  accomplifhed  by  wicked 


AN  ADDRESS.  19} 

agents,  whether  vifible  or  invifible.  This  is  in- 
timated in  the  words  immediately  following. 
"  And  he  gathered  them  together  into  a  place, 
called  in  the  Hebrew  tongue,  Armageddon. J> 
He,  that  is  Chrift,  gathered  them  together. 
This  is  faid  to  denote  the  fuperintendance  and 
agency  of  Chrift  in  gathering  them  together, 
while  men  and  devils  are  active  in  producing  the 
fame  event.  Thus  when  the  king  of  Aflyria 
gathered  a  great  army  together  with  an  intent  to 
invade  and  lay  wafte  the  land  of  Judah  and  Je- 
rufalem,  God  fays  he  fent  him  to  accomplifh  his 
purpofe  ;  and  that  the  king  and  his  army  were 
in  his  hand,  and  under  his  influence  and  direc- 
tion, as  much  as  the  faw  and  ax  are  in  the  hand 
of  the  workman.  And  when  the  falfe  prophets 
were  deceived,  and  flattered  Ahab  that  he  mould 
profper  in  going  to  war,  in  which  his  army  was 
conquered,  and  he  loft  his  own  life,  it  is  faid 
the  Lord  put  a  lying  fpirit  in  the  mouth  of  all 
thefe  falfe  prophets.  So  Chrift  is  faid  to  come 
with  the  Romans  when  they  gathered  their  army 
to  deftroy  Jerusalem. 

Jefus  Chrift  is  therefore  now  come  and  coming- 
in  all  the  remarkable,  unexpected  wonderful 
events  which  are  taking  place  under  the  fixth 
vial,  by  the  agency  of  men  and  devils.  He  fu- 
perintends  and  directs  the  whole  until  all  things 
are  prepared  for  the  battle  of  the  great  day  of 
God  Almighty,  and  he  has  gathered  together  the 


i<)6  AN  ADDRESS. 

army  of  his  enemies.  Then  he  will  come  to 
battle,  and  deftroy  his  enemies,  and  deliver  his 
church,  and  caufe  it  to  profper  as  it  never  has 
done  before.  But  in  all  this  coming  of  Chrift 
none  will  be  properly  fenfible  of  it  or  prepared 
for  it  but  thofe  who  are  awake,  watch  and  keep- 
their  garments,  to  the  reft  he  comes  as  a  thief. 

M  Blefled  is  he  that  watcheth."  When  he  that 
watcheth,  &c.  is  pronounced  blejfed  it  fuppofes 
that  none  who  are  not  of  this  character  are  blefs- 
ed,  but  the  contrary ;  to  watch,  in  the  fenfe  of 
the  text,  is  to  be  fpiritually  awake,  to  look  in- 
ward, and  view  their  own  motions  and  moraj  ex- 

ifes,  and  on  their  outward  condu£t  to  learn  on 
whofe  fide  they  are  •>  and  to  look  round  and  dif- 
cern  the  ftate  and  condition  of  the  caufe  of 
Chrift  in  the  world  •,  what  is  the  moral  ftate  of 
the  world,  what  the  enemies  to  chriftianity  are 
doing  \  what  is  their  apparent  ftrength,  and  fuc- 
cefs  in  their  caufe  ,  and  what  appears  to  have 
come  to  pafs,  and  to  be  foon  coming,  from  di- 
vine prophecy  •,  and  to  be  concerned  to  be  in 
readinefs  to  do  all  they  can,  and  whatever  they 
are  called  to  do  for  the  caufe  of  Chrift,  and  in 
oppofition  to  that  of  his  enemies. 

« Blefled  is  he  that  keepeth  his  garments." 
This  feems  to  be  an  allufion  to  a  foldier  fet  on  the 
watch  in  the  time  of  war  and  danger,  when  the 
army  to  which  he   belongs  is  furrounded,  and 


AN  ADDRESS.  I97 

threatened  to  be  invaded  and  conquered  by  a  hoft 
of  enemies.  His  duty  is  to  continue  awake,  and 
obferve  the  motion  of  the  enemy,  &e.  If  he 
put  off  the  livery  of  a  foldier,  and  lie  down  to 
fleep,  he  may  be  furprized  by  the  enemy  and 
obliged  to  run  away  naked,  or  will  fall  into  the 
hands  of  his  foes  and  be  carried  off  by  them. 
In  the  fpirituai  warfare,  in  which  every  chriftian 
is  engaged,  every  one  muft  be  continually  on  the 
watch,  and  keep  on  him  the  livery  of  a  chriftian 
foldier,  and  never  on  any  occafion  put  thefe  gar- 
ments off  and  lay  them  afide.  Watching  and 
keeping  his  garments  imply  each  other,  and  can- 
not be  feparated.  He  who  doth  watch  keepeth 
his  garments,  and  he  who  keepeth  his  garments, 
watcheth. 

The  garments  of  a  christian,  by  which  he  is 
diftinguifhed  from  all  others,  and  are  the  chrif- 
tian livery,  confift  in  the  knowledge  and  prac- 
tice of  the  truths  in  which  he  "  puts  on  Chrift," 
and  is  conformed  to  him  in  heart  and  condudt, 
wherein  he  has  fet  an  example  to  be  imitated,  and 
embraces  the  truth,  the  doctrines  he  taught,  and 
commands  he  has  enjoined,  both  in  the  exercifes 
of  his  heart  and  in  his  conversation  and  conduct,. 
This  is  to  be  clothed  with  every  chriftian  grace 
and  virtue,  of  which  a  very  important  one  is 
humility.  The  whole  is  comprehended  in  fovef 
in  putting  on  charity,  that  is  love,  and  walking 
in  love.     This  comprifes  the  whole  of  the  ehrlf- 

R    2 


I98  AN  ADDRESS. 

tian  chara&er,  and  the  garments  with  which  he 
is  clothed.  None  but  true  chriftians,  as  has 
been  obferved  do  put  on  thefe  garments  in  reali- 
ty ;  but  many  others  do  put  them  on  by  profef- 
fion  and  in  appearance  in  the  fight  of  men.  The 
latter  often  in  times  of  temptation  do  not  keep 
their  garments  •,  but  fall  from  their  profeffion  or 
apoftatize  in  conduft  fo  as  to  difcover  their  fhame. 
And  real  chriftians  are  in  fuch  danger  of  loofing 
their  garments,  that  it  is  neceflary  for  them  to 
watch  and  exert  themfelves  to  keep  them,  left 
they  (hould  walk  naked,  &c 

But  it  is  of  importance  that  thefe  chriftian  gar- 
ments fhould  be  more  particularly  defcribed,  and 
to  fhow  how  they  may  be  kept,  and  what  is  ne- 
ceflary to  do  it,  and  in  what  ways  they  may  be 
foiled,  or  put  off  and  loft.  The  chriftian  has 
put  on  Jefus  Chrift,  he  is  clothed  with  him,  by 
imbibing  the  fame  fpirit  that  is  in  him  ;  by  fin- 
cere  and  ardent  love  to  him,  union  and  conftant, 
and  clofe  adherence  to  him  and  truft  in  him  for 
all  he  wants  ;  a  cordial,  ftrong  devotednefs  to 
him,  his  fervice,  intereft  and  caufe,  as  the  great 
and  only  intereft  worthy  to  be  fought  and  pur- 
fued,  in  which  his  heart  is  principally  engaged 
and  fwallowed  up.  Confequently,  whatever  is 
Contrary  to,  and  oppofes  the  honour  and  intereft 
of  his  dear  Lord  and  Mafter,  he  is  quick  to  dif- 
cern  \  and  he  moft  fenfibly  feels  it,  and  is  difpofed 
to  oppofe  it  in  all  proper  ways,  whatever  he  muft 


AN  ADDRESS.  Ipp 

be  led  to  facrifice  for  it,  not  excepting  his  own 
life.  All  this  is  neceffary  for  a  chriftian  to  keep 
his  garments.  Jefus  Chrifl  has  exprefsly  aflerted 
this.  He  who  is  only  a  vifible,  profefling  chrif- 
tian, is  not  thus  a  friend  to  Chrifl,  and  really 
cares  nothing  about  his  honour  or  intereft,  and 
may  really  put  off  the  garments  of  a  chriftian 
and  betray  the  caufe  of  Chrifl,  while,  through 
his  infenfibility,  and  want  of  love  to  Chrifl  and 
his  caufe,  or  a  contrary  difpofition,  he  is  wholly 
infenfible  of  it.  And  when  he  cannot  continue 
his  chriftian  profeffion  without  endangering  his 
life,  or  in  fome  way  hurting  his  temporal  intereft, 
he  will  part  with  this  vifible  chriftian  garment, 
or  do  that  which  is  equivalent. 

This  love,  without  which  there  can  be  reaily 
no  part  of  thefe  chriftian  garments,  alfo,  carries 
in  the  nature  of  it  a  peculiar  and  ftrong  union  to 
the  friends  of  Chrifl,  as  they  are  clothed  with 
the  fame  garments,  love>  in  all  its  branches,  and 
with  one  heart  and  foul  engaged  in  the  fame 
caufe.  When  a  profefled  chriftian  walks  difor- 
derly  and  is  the  caufe  of  ftrife  and  contention  in 
the  church,  he  does  not  keep  his  garments,  but 
fo  far  puts  them  off.  Hence  the  ground  and  ne- 
ceflity  of  chriftian  difcipline,  in  the  exercife  of 
this  love  \  in  the  total  negleil  of  which  chriftians 
do  not  keep,  but  fully  and  lofe  their  garments. 
And  the  chriftian  cannot  wear  or  keep  his  gar- 
ments without  exercifing  benevolence  to  his  fel- 


200  AN  ADDRESS. 

low  men,  in  general,  by  doing  good  to  all  men 
as  he  has  opportunity. 

In  order  to  have  a  full  more  clear  and  full  idea 
of  the  garments,  and  how  he  may  keep  or  loofe 
them,  they  muft  be  confidered  as  they  confift 
in  the  armour  by  which  he  defends  himfelf, 
mantains  his  ground,  and  obtains  the  victory,  in 
his  warfare  with  his  enemies.  In  this  view  the 
clothing  neceilary  for  a  chriftian  as  a  foldier  of 
Chrifl  and  engaged  in  a  warfare  under  him,  in 
which  fituation  he  is  confidered  in  the  words  be- 
fore us  muft  be  put  on.  This  clothing  is  often 
mentioned  in  fcripture  ;  but  mod  particularly 
defcribed  by  the  apoftle  Paul  in  the  conclufion 
of  his  letter  to  the  church  at  Ephefus.  Which 
ought  to  be  often  read,  underftood  and  commit- 
ted to  memory,  by  every  chriftian.  After  defcri- 
bing  the  vaft  number,  fubtilty  and  power  of  their 
inviiible,  Spiritual  enemies,  he  calls  upon  chris- 
tians to  arm  themlelves,  "  to  put  on  the  whole 
armour  of  God,"  in  order  to  withftand  thefe 
enemies,  "  in  the  evil  day."  The  apoftles  and 
primitive  chriitians  lived  in  an  evil  day,  and  all 
the  days  of  chriitians  in  every  age  fince  have 
been  evil  in  a  fenfe  and  degree  greater  or  lefs. 
They  had  the  devil^  and  all  the  men  whom  he  is 
allowed  to  influence  and  ftir  up  to  hate  and  perfe- 
cute  them,  to  oppofe*  But  the  time  in  which 
we  live,  and  is  yet  coming  on,  is  in  a  peculiar 
fenfe  and  degree  evil,  as  thefe  evil  Spirits  have  a 


AN  ADDRESS.  201 

particular  and  large  commiftion  to  go  forth,  and 
by  their  influence  to  ftir  up  men  in  general,  at 
leaft  in  the  chriftian  world,  in  zealous  and  ftrong 
attempts  againfi  Chrift,  and  to  deftroy  chriftian- 
ity  and  the  church.  And  to  what  lengths  they 
will  be  permitted  to  proceed,:  and  what  particu- 
lar deeds,  in  their  feeking  to  deftroy  chriftians, 
they  will  be  fuffered  to  do,  at  prefent  none  can 
certainly  know.  It  is  enough  for  us  to  know  that 
they  will  do  what  God  has  defigned  they  fhall, 
and  -proceed  till  they  have  filled  the  meafure  of 
their  iniquity,  and  are  completely  ripe,  and  fit- 
ted for  the  deftru&ion  which  (hall  come  upon 
them  in  the  battle  of  that  great  day  ;  and  that 
they  are  and  fhall  be  blefTed  who  watch  and  keep 
their  garments,  having  put  on  the  whole  armour 
of  God.  Since  all  this  is  true,  there  is  a  par- 
ticular and  loud  call  to  all  profefied  chriftians  to 
put  on  this  armour,  and  be  prepared  for  what- 
ever is  coming  even  the  worft,  however  fudden 
and  unexpected  it  may  come  ;  and  be  unfeen 
and  not  thought  of,  till  fudden  deftru&ion  come 
upon  them  and  they  fhall  not  efcape. 

Let  chriftians  then  ftand,  having  their  loins 
girt  about  with  truth.  By  truth  is  meant  that 
fcheme  and  plan  of  important,  confident  con- 
nected truth  revealed  in  the  bible.  This  is  often 
denominated  the  truth  in  diftin&ion  from  all  er- 
ror, and  every  fcheme  of  doCtrine  which  men 
have  invented,  or  may   or   can    invent,  which 


202  AN  ADDRESS. 

though  they  may  contain  feme  things  which  are 
true ;  yet  there  is  fo  much  error  and  falfehood 
mixed  with  it,  as  to  fpoil  t'ue  whole,  and  render 
it  wholly  inconfiftent  and  ruinous.  In  oppofition 
to  this,  the  doctrines  of  revelation  are  called  the 
truth,  pure,  important,  faving  truth,  without 
any  the  leaft  mixture  of  error.  They  who  know 
and  embrace  this  truth,  and  not  any  others,  are 
and  fhall  be  faved.  They  only  love  the  truth, 
walk  in  the  truth,  and  by  love  are  united  to  all 
who  appear  to  know,  love  the  truth,  and  walk 
in  it.  This  is  the  truth  of  which  Jefus  Chrift 
ipeaks  when  he  fays  to  Pilate,  "To  this  end  was 
I  born,  and  for  this  caufe  came  I  into  the  world, 
that  I  fhould  bear  witnefs  unto  the  truth" 

The  apoftle  reprefents  this  truth  by  a  girdle, 
by  which  a  man  girds  himfelf  and  ties  up  his 
loofe  garments,  by  which  he  is  fitted  for  aftion. 
The  girdle  was  then  confidered  as  an  eilential 
part  of  clothing  ;  efpecially  for  thofe  who  were 
engaged  in  warfare.  And  in  the  cafe  before  us 
fitly  reprefents  the  truth,  by  which  the  chriftian 
is  ftrengthened,  and  all  his  garments  are  made 
tight,  without  which  he  cannot  take  one  ftep. 
A  proper  girdle,  to  anfwer  the  end  for  ftrength 
and  ornament,  muft  confift  of  one  fort  of  ma- 
terials, ftrongly  united  together  into  one  belt  or 
firing,  without  any  chafm  or  weak  place,  by 
which  it  may  become  two,  or  fall  into  parts. 
So  the  truth  by  which  the  chriftian  is    girded   is. 


AN  ADDRESS.  2C3 

perfectly  conne&ed  together.  The  whole  makes 
but  one  girdle  ;  and  one  part  cannot  be  taken  out 
without  fpoiling  the  whole.  If  it  be  confidered 
as  compofed  of  feveral  links,  all  harmonious, 
and  of  one  and  the  fame  fort  ftrongly  connected 
and  implying  and  depending  upon  each  other  ;  if 
one"of  the  links  be  marred  or  broken  and  taken 
out,  the  girdle  is  marred  and  fpoiled,  and  is  not 
fit  or  capable  of  girding  the  loins  of  a  chriftian. 
If  one  eflential  truth  of  the  gofpel  which  is  com- 
prehended in  the  truths  be  denied  or  left  out  of  the 
chriftian's  creed,  it  is  not  a  chriftian  girdle,  but 
like  the  girdle  which  the  prophet  Jeremiah  hid  in 
a  hole  in  a  rock  by  Euphrates,  it  is  marred  and 
good  for  nothing,* 

*  Numbers  will  fay,  "  Many  often  fpeak  of  ejfential  do&rines  1 
but  it  has  never  yet  been  determined  and  agreed  what  thefe 
effential  doctrines  are  ;  fo  that  to  fpeak  of  eflential  truths, 
leaves  the  matter  as  vague  and  uncertain  as  ever  ;  for  none 
can  tell,  and  chriftians  cannot  agree  to  fay  what  they  are." 

Anfvver.  It  may  be  alked,  who  they  are  who  make  this 
objection,  and  talk  after  this  manner  ?  Are  they  thofe  who 
give  proper  and  good  evidence  that  they  are  born  again  of 
the  fpirit  of  God  and  of  truth  ?  Do  they  appear  to  have 
that  holy  love  which  they  only  exercife  who  are  born  of  God, 
and  by  which  alone  they  know  God?  The  apoftle  John 
fays,  "  he  that  knoweth  God  heareth  us  ;  he  that  is  not  of 
God  hearetk  not  us."  i  John  iv.  6,  7,  8.  And  Chrift.  fays, 
the  fame,  "  To  this  end  was  I  born,  and  for  this  caufe  came 
I  into  the  world,  that  I  mould  bear  witnef3  unto  the  truth. 
Every  one  that  is  of  the  truth  heareth  my  voice."  John 
xviii.  37.  They  who  are  not  of  this  character,  but  of  the 
contrary,  do  not  hear  the  voice  of  Chrift,  or  the  words  of 
the  apoftles.  They  know  not  God,  "  They  receive  not  the 
things  of  the  fpirit  of  Gad  :  for  they  are  fooiimnefs  unto 
them  ;  neither  can  they  know  them,  becaule  they  are  fpirit- 


.:4  AN  ADDIv 

_ 

The  apoftl  !  .ds,  "  and  having  on  the  breaft- 
plate  of  righteoufnefs."  Here  by  righteoufnefs 
is  meant  true  holinefs  or  uprightnefs  of  heart  by 
which  the  chriftian  is  guarded  and  fortified  againft 
theaflaults  of  fatan.  This  is  indeed  implied  in 
having  his  loins  girt  about  with  truth,  as  every 
part  of  armour  here  mentioned  is  implied  in  the 
other,  and  each  one  really  implies  the  whole, 
for  one  cannot  be  put  on  without  the  other.     It 

ually  difcerned."  I  Cor.  ii.  14.  They  hate  the  truth,  and 
will  not  come  to  it.  John  iii.  19,  ao.  No  wonder  thatfuch 
are  in  the  dark  and  cannot  tell  what  is  eflential  truth,  or  what 
is  the  truth. 

But  there  have  been  thoufands  and  millions  who  being 
born  again  have  come  to  the  knowledge  cf  the  truth,  and 
have  been  united  in  embracing  the  truth,  and  in  what  are 
the  eflential  truths  of  the  gofpel.  And  there  have  been  and 
are  innumerable  chriftian  churches,  who  agree  in  a  creed 
which  they  believe  and  arefure  contains  the  eflential  truth* 
contained  in  divine  revelation.  Which  are,  in  fubftancc, 
the  following. 

That  there  is  one  God  polteffing  all  poffible  perfe&ions, 
both  natural  and  moral,  which  are  infinite  and  unchangeable  : 
confequently  he  is  unchangeable  in  his  will  and  defigns  or 
decrees,  by  which  all  things  from  the  greateft  to  the  leafb 
which  mould  take  place  were  determined  and  fixed ;  and 
that  perfectly  confident  with  the  freedom  of  all  moral  agents. 

That  God  fubfifb  in  a  trinity  of  three,  called  in  the  fcrip- 
ture  the  Father,  the  Son,  or  the  Word,  and  the  Holy  Spirit. 

That  mankind  who  were  made  upright  have  in  confc- 
quence  of  the  fin  of  Adam,  fallen  into  a  ftate  of  tttal  moral 
depravity,  being  dead  in  trefpafles  and  fin. 

That  God  has  determined  to  fave  fome,  not  all  of  man- 
kind, whom  he  has  chofen  out  of  the  reft  and  given  them  to 
the  Son  to  be  favedby  him.  That  Chrift  the  Saviour  is  God 
manifcft  in  the  flefti,  and  has  by  his  fuffering,  and  obedience 
made  atonement  for  fin,  and  obtained  that  merit  and  right- 


IN  ADDRESS.  20$ 

is  a  whole  armour  :  h  all  hang  '  -^ether,  as  one 
whole.  The  breaft-plate  of  righteoufnefs  joined 
with  the  loins  girded  with  truth,  diitinguifhes 
the  latter  from  that  which  is  fpurious  and  falfe. 
The  apoftie  had  fpoken  of  thofe  who  «  hold  the 
truth  in  u n right eoufnefs"  He  here  fpeaks  of  di- 
rectly the  contrary,  holding  the  truth  in  righte- 
oufnefs ;  which  is,  receiving  it  into  an  hone  ft  and 
good  heart.  Men  may  hold  the  truth  in  fome 
part  of  it,  if  not  the  whole,  in  fpeculation,  while 
their  hearts  are  neither  good  or  honeft,  but  hate 
and  oppofe  it.  This  is  to  hold  it  in  unrighteouf- 
nefs,  as  they  do  not  put  on  the  breaft-plate  of 
righteoufnefs  \  neither  are  their  loins  girt  about 
with  truth. 

eoufnefs,  by  which  Gnners  maybe  pardoned,  juftified  and 
laved  confidently  with  the  righteous  law  and  government  of 
God. — That  the  finner  who  believes  in  Chrift  is  juftified,  by 
the  righteoufnefs  of  Chrift  and  not  on  accoun:  of  any  thing 
good  and  deferving  in  himfelf.  That  in  order  to  believe  on 
Chrift,  men  muft  be  born  again  by  thefpirit  of  God,  which 
God  of  his  fovereign  grace  effects  in  the  hearts  of  the  elecSt, 
who  being  jnftified  by  faith,  fhall  perfevere  in  holinefs  to 
'eternal  life. — That  the  law  of  God  requiring  perfect  obedi- 
ence and  holinefs,  is  binding  on  all  men  both  faints  and  di- 
ners, which  none  attain  to  in  this  life. 

That  there  will  be  a  refurre&ion  of  all  the  bodies  both  of 
thejuft  and  unjuft  ;  when  all  (hall  be  judged  by  Chrift,  who 
will  invite  the  former  into  his  eternal  kingdom,  to  be  holy 
and  happy  forever  ;  and  will  fentence  the  latter  to  everlafl- 
ing  puniihment. 

There  are  many  truths  not  expreffed  but  implied  in  the 
above  creed,  and  numerous  things  which  maybe  called  ap- 
pendages to  it,  in  the  knowledge  of  which  the  attentive 
discerning  chriftian,  who  embraces  the  foregoing  fundamen- 
tal doctrines,  will  make  advances,  as  he  grows  in  grace  and 
in  the  knowledge  of  his  Lord  and  Saviour  Jefus  Chrift. 
S 


206  AN  ADDRESS. 

The  truth,  as  it  has  been  explained,  is  hated 
and  oppofed  by  fatan  and  all  wicked  men.  The 
rulers  of  the  darknefs  of  this  world,  and  all 
their  followers  hate  this  light,  which  is  deftrutt- 
ive  to  the  kingdom  of  darknefs,  error  and  delu- 
fion,  which  is  the  kingdom  of  the  devil  •,  which 
none  can  fuccefsfully  oppofe,  unlefs  their  loins 
are  girded  about  with  truth. 

It  might  not  be  unprofitable  to  proceed  to  men- 
tion and  explain  the  other  parts  of  the  chriftian 
armour  fpecifiedby  the  apoftle:  But  as  this  would 
fwell  this  addrefs  beyond  the  propofed  limits,  it 
mud  be  left  to  every  ferious  chriftian  to  examine 
and  meditate  on  the  whole  of  this  important 
pafiage.  One  particular,  however,  here  men- 
tioned muft  not  be  wholly  pafled  over,  which  is 
faith,  that  faith  which  is  the  fubftance  of  things 
hoped  for,  and  the  evidence  of  things  not  feen, 
which  is  rcprefented  as  effential  to  the  whole, 
and  covering  all  the  reft.  This  implies  a  firm 
and  unftiaken  truft  in  the  glorious  head  of  the 
church,  in  his  power,  wifdom,  goodnefs  and 
truth ;  a  hope  and  confidence  that  he  will  main- 
tain his  own  caufe,  protect  his  church  and 
friends,  and  lead  them  on  to  complete  viftory, 
and  in  the  beft  time  and  manner  defeat  all  his 
and  their  enemies,,  and  turn  all  they  have  done 
or  will  do  to  his  own  advantage  and  the  benefit 
of  his  church  and  kingdom.  Were  it  not  for 
this  faith  the  chriftian  muft  fink  into  a  fpirit  of 


AN  ADDRESS.  207 

defpondency  and  heavinefs ;  but  in  the  exercife 
of  this  he  puts  on  the  garment  of  praife  and 
joy,  however  much  and  long  fatan  and  wicked 
men  may  feem  to  fucceed,  prevail  and  profper. 

This  fubjeft  will  be  concluded  by  a  few  cau- 
tions,* dire&ions,  and  motives  to  regard  and 
obey  thefe  words  of  Chrift,  which  are  more  ap- 
plicable, and  fpeak  more  direftly  to  the  profef- 
fed  chriftians  of  this  generation  and  thofe  which 
fhall  follow,  than  to  any  who  have  lived  hereto- 
fore. 

1 .  Be  concerned  to  be  awake.  Do  not  fleep 
as  others,  but  watch  and  be  fober,  left  this  day 
ihould  overtake  you  as  a  thief.  Watch  again  ft 
every  the  lead  deviation  from  the  way  of  truth 
and  duty.  Look  round  you  and  fee  what  others 
and  the  world  are  doing,  and  maintain  that  love 
to  Chrift  and  concern  for  his  honour  and  intereil 
as  fhall  produce  a  mod  lively  and  fenfible  feeling 
of  every  thing  which  is  againft  him  and  his 
eaufe,  and  be  ready  to  oppofe  it  in  all  proper 
waySr 

2.  Take  heed  what  do&rines  you  imbibe  as 
true.  Study  the  bible  with  care  and  conftancy. 
Be  concerned  to  know  and  embrace  the  whole 
truth,  which  you  can  fee  through  from  begin- 
ning to  the  end  ;  and  though  there  be  fome 
things  incomprehenfible  in  it,  yet  you  can  fee  the 
whole  to  be  perfe&ly  confiftent,  and  to  form  one 


208  AN  ADDRESS, 

conne&ed  chain,  which  cannot  be  broken,  and 
with  which  you  may  fafely  gird  up  your  loins. 

There  are  many  errors  embraced  and  propa- 
gated at  this  day,  which  are  inconfident  with  the 
conne&ed  chain  of  truth,  which  if  confidently 
followed  would  land  men  in  total  infidelity  and 
atheifm.  They  who  are  afleep  may  be  wholly 
infenfible  of  this ;  but  chridians  ought  to  be 
awake,  able  to  difcern  and  guard  againd  fuch 
errors.  It  wrould  take  too  much  room  to  particu- 
larife  here,  and  mention  all  the  errors  which 
have  this  tendency,  and  fhow  that  they  will  land 
all  thofe  who  embrace,  and  confidently  follow 
them,  in  the  darknefs  of  atheifm.  But  it  may 
be  of  importance  to  mention  one,  which  indeed 
is  connected  with  many  others.  It  is  this,  that 
the  do£fcrines  of  the  gofpel  are  of  fo  little  impor- 
tance, that  it  is  really  no  matter  what  men  be- 
lieve, if  they  do  but  live  a  moral  life.  It  is  eafy 
to  fhow  that  this  is  not  only  contrary  to  the 
whole  bible,  but  really  fets  it  afide,  as  no  better 
than  deifm  or  atheifm  itfelf. 

3.  The  world  is  a  dangerous  fnare  to  chrif- 
tians at  all  times,  especially  in  this  time  when  fa- 
tan  is  with  power  and  fubtilty  tempting  men  to 
worldly-mindednefs  among  other  vices.  So  far 
as  men  are  inclined  to  infidelity,  and  immorali- 
ty in  general  they  love  the  world,  and  the  things 
of  the  world,  and  are  eagerly  purfuing  the  plea- 


AN  ADDRESS.  20p" 

Aires,  profit  and  honors  of  it.  And  indeed  this 
is  the  leading  vice,  and  the  parent  of  all  the  reft. 
Chriflians  cannot  give  way  to  this,  and*  keep  their 
garments  unfpotted  by  it.  Their  faith,  if  true  and 
exercifed  with  proper  ftrength,  will  overcome 
the  world.  They  cannot  ferve  God  and  mam- 
mon. All  their  concerns  with  the  things  of  the 
world  are  fubordinated  to  the  honour  and  caufe 
of  Chrift,  and  wholly  devoted  to  this :  and  in 
their  worldly  bufinefs,  they  exercife  as  real  reli- 
gion in  love  to  Chrift  and  adling  for  him  and  his 
intereft,  as  in  any  of  their  adls  of  piety  and  de- 
votion. He  who  lays  afide  his  religion  for  a 
week,  day  or  one  hour,  that  he  may  take  care 
of  and  purfue  his  worldly  concerns  in  any  man- 
ner and  fhape  whatever,  is  fo  far  from  keeping, 
that  he  puts  off  the  chriftian  garment.  And  if 
he  returns  one  day  in  the  week,  or  at  any  other 
time,  when  his  temporal  affairs  will  admit,  to 
fome  attention  to  religion,  2nd  pra£tice  of  it,  he 
is  fo  far  from  putting  on  the  chriftian  garments, 
that  in  the  fight  of  him  who  has  faid,  "  Ye  can- 
not ferve  God  and  mammon,"  it  is  nothing  but 
deceit  and  mockery.  Let  chriflians  beware  of 
this,  "would  they  keep  their  garments  in  this  evil 
time. 

4.  Take  heed  of  engaging  and  a&ing  in  po- 
litical and  civil  concerns  fo  as  to  weaken  or  coun- 
teract the  caufe  of  chriftianity,  or  lofe  or  abate 
your  own  r^jgious  exercifes  and  zeal  in  the  caufe 
s  % 


210  AN  ADDRESS. 

of  Chrift.  We  live  in  a  time  when  this  caution 
is  peculiarly  proper  and  necefiary  ;  when  the 
public  are  greatly  divided  in  their  fentiments  and 
conduit  ;  and  difputes  and  political  contention 
rife  very  high,  and  are  carried  on  with  great  heat 
and  animofity.  This  is  in  itfelf  but  a  temporal, 
worldly  matter,  and  comparatively  of  Fmall  im- 
portance, fo  far  as  the  intereft  of  Chrift  and 
chriftianity  has  no  concern  with  it,  and  is  not, 
in  fome  refpefts  involved  in  it  ;  which  is  not 
often  the  cafe.  Bat  when  religion  is  connected 
with  civil  affairs,  the  chrifiian  feels  intereftedin 
them ;  but,  as  in  all  other  worldly  concerns,  he 
fubordinates  them  to  this  all  important  intereft. 
He  will  therefore  be  on  that  fide  in  politics, 
which  in  his  beft  and  mod  mature  judgment  will 
moft  promote  the  caufe  of  Chrift.  And  if  he 
thinks  his  acting  with  either  party  will  not  tend 
to  help  this  caufe,  he  will  fit  ftill,  and  aft  on 
neither  fide.  And  if  he  thinks  religion  calls  him 
to  fpeak  and  aft  on  one  fide,  he  will  be  calm  and 
fteady,  and  not  join  in  the  fierce  contentions  and 
unchriftian  words  and  actions  of  thofe  of  either 
party  ;  but  condemn  and  reprove  them.  When 
profefled  chriftians  are  fo  engaged  in  politicks, 
as  to  fubordinate  the  caufe  of  religion  to  their 
political  caufe,  and  fay  and  do  that  which  tends 
to  wound  and  fink  chriftianity,  or  when  the 
caufe  itfelf  which  they  efpoufe  has  evidently  this 
tendency,  they  do  not  keep,  but  put  off  their 
chriftian  garments.  Therefore*eJ^iftwns  take 
heed  to  themfelves  in  this  point. 


let  chrift: 


AN  ADDRESS.  211 

Should  the  body  or  majority  of  the  people  of 
a  community  or  nation  become  fo  corrupt  and 
carelefs  about  the  intereft  of  chriitianity,  as  to 
join  with  profefled  infidels  in  choofing  rulers  who 
were  known  to  be  real  enemies  to  chriftianity, 
which  may  be  in  fa£t  the  cafe  under  the  fixth 
vial,  which  is.  now  running  ;  could  a  chriftian  in 
this  cafe  watch  and  keep  his  garments,  and  yet 
join  with  them  to  promote  and  carry  on  this  bufi- 
nefs  ?  And  if  this  man  fhould  attempt  to  ex- 
cufe  and  juftify  himfelf  by  faying  that  political 
matters  and  religion  are  entirely  diftinft  and  dif- 
ferent things  ?  therefore  while  he  acts  in  the 
former  and  joins  with  thofe  who  are  attempting 
to  deftroy  the  caufe  of  the  latter,  he  leaves  the 
latter  with  a  view  to  refume  it,  when  he  has  an- 
fwered  his  political  ends  \  will  not  this  make  bad 
worfe  ?  Let  the  difcerning  chriftian  who 
watches  and  keeps  his  garments,  judge. 

This  particular  will  be  concluded,  by  a  quota- 
tion from  Mr.  Fuller,  an  Englifti  writer.  In  his 
preface  to  his  book  entitled  "  The  gofpel  its  own 
witnefs,"  he  writes  as  follows.  "  One  thing 
which  has  contributed  to  the  advantage  of  infi- 
delity is  the  height  to  which  political  difputes 
have  arifen,  and  the  degree  in  which  they  have 
interefted  the  paflions  and  prejudices  of  man- 
kind. Thofe  who  favour  the  fentiments  of  a  fet 
of  men  in  one  thing,  will  be  in  danger  of  think- 
ing favouraMfeof  them  in  others  \  at  leaft  they 
vrill  not  beako  view  them  in  fo  bad  a  light,  as 


W" 


212  AN  ADDRESS. 

if  they  had  been  advanced  by  perfons  of  differ- 
ent fentiments  in  other  things,  as  well  as  in  reli- 
gion. It  is  true,  there  may  be  nothing  more 
friendly  to  infidelity  in  the  nature  of  one  political 
fyftem  than  another  ;  neverthelefs  it  becomes 
thofe  who  think  favourably  of  the  political  prin- 
ciples of  infidels  to  take  heed  left  they  be  infenfi- 
bly  drawn  away  to  think  lightly  of  religion.  All 
the  nations  of  the  earth,  and  all  the  difputes  on 
the  beft  or  word  mode  of  government,  com- 
pared with  this,  are  lefs  than  nothing  and 
vanity. 

"  To  this  it  may  be  added,  that  the  eagernefs 
with  which  men  engage  in  political  difputes,  take 
which  fide  they  may,  is  unfavourable  to  a  zeal- 
ous adherence  to  the  gofpel.  Any  mere  worldly 
object,  if  it  becomes  the  principal  thing  which 
occupies  our  thoughts  and  affections  will  weaken 
our  attachment  to  religion  :  And  if  we  once 
become  cool  and  indifferent  to  this,  we  are  in 
the  high  road  to  infidelity." 

This-  addrefs  will  be  concluded  by  fuggefting 
motives  to  pay  fpecial  attention  to  thefe  words 
of  Chrift,  and  carefully  obey  them. 

i.  Jefus  Chrift  fpeaks  in  thefe  remarkable 
words  particularly  and  moll  exprcfsly  to  thofe 
who  live  in  this  day,  as  has  been  fhown.  There- 
fore to  difregard  them  now  will  be  highly  and  in 
a  peculiar  degree  criminal  and  dangerous. 


AN  ADDRESS, 

2.  If  you  do  net  watch  and  keep  your  gar- 
ments, confider  the  awful,  the  infinitely  dreadful 
confequence.  Chrift  will  come  upon  you  as  a 
thief,  and  you  fhall  not  know  what  hour  he  will 
come.  The  confequence  will  be  your  fuffering 
all  evils  of  this  day,  and  final  and  everlafting 
deftru&ion. 

3.  Many  and  great  evils  are  faft  coming,onand 
are  even  at  the  door,  in  which  the  church  will 
partake,  and  greatly  fuffer,  even  to  a  degree  at 
prefent  unknown.  In  the  time  of  the  prevalence 
of  infidelity  and  immorality,  and  all  kinds  of 
vice  which  attend  it,  chriftians  mud  fuffer  many 
ways,  and  endure  great  trials  and  temptations  to 
turn  afide  and  fin.  And  many  calamities  and 
divine  judgments  will  take  place  before  the  fixth 
vial  is  ended,  as  a  warning  and  anticipation  of 
the  battle  which  is  coming  on,  as  has  been  ob- 
ferved.  In  thefe,  chriftians  muft  fuffer  in  a  great- 
er or  lefs  degree  with  others.  And  they  will 
doubtlefs  come  fuddenly  and  unexpected  to  all, 
who  are  not  prepared  to  meet  them  by  watching 
and  keeping  their  garments. 

And  chriftians  have  no  warrant  to  conclude, 
that  perfecution  will  not  take  place  before  the 
vial  which  is  now  running  is  out.  And  how 
foon  and  fuddenly  it  will  come  on,  none  can 
tell.  There  is  nothing  in  the  volume  of  Revela- 
tion which  intimates  that  the  church  (hall  be  no 
more  perfected,  and  that  to  a  degree  beyond 


214  AN  ADDRESS. 

*  any  thing  of  the  kind  that  has  yet  taken  place, 
And  there  are  fome  paffages  of  fcripture  which 
feem  to  foretel  the  contrary,  fome  of  which  will 
be  here  mentioned.  The  prophet  Jeremiah 
fpeaks  of  the  fufferings  of  Jacob,  that  is  of  the 
church  of  Chrift,  as  peculiarly  great  in  the  time 
immediately  previous  to  her  deliverance  and  pros- 
perity which  Chrift  fhall  effe£t  when  he  fhall 
come  to  reign  in  the  millennium.  [Chap.  xxx. 
4 — 9.]  "  Alas  !  for  that  day  is  great,  fo  that 
none  is  like  it  :  //  is  even  the  time  of  Jacob's  trou- 
ble ;  but  he  fhall  be  faved  out  of  it.  For  it  (hall 
come  to  pafs  in  that  day,  faith  the  Lord  of  hofts 
that  I  will  break  his  yoke  from  off  thy  neck,  and 
will  burft  thy  bonds,  and  ftrangers  fhall  no  more 
ferve  themfelves  of  him.  But  they  fhall  ferve 
the  Lord  their  God,  and  David  their  king,  whom 
I  will  raife  up  unto  them."  By  David  Chrift  is 
meant.  This  expreffion  is  frequently  ufed  by 
the  prophets  to  denote  the  reign  of  Chrift  in  the 
millennium.  The  fame  we  may  underftand  as 
predicted,  Dan.  xii.  1.  This  is  expreffed  by 
Z e char iah  [chap.  xiv.  1,  2,  3.]  "  Behold,  the  day 
of  the  Lord  cometh,  and  thy  fpoil  fhall  be  di- 
vided in  the  midft  of  thee.  For  I  will  gather  all 
nations  againft  Jerufalem  to  battle,  and  the  city 
fhall  be  taken,  and  the  houfes  rifled,  and  the 
women  ravifhed,  and  half  of  the  city  fhall  go  forth 
into  captivity,  and  the  refidue  of  the  people 
fhall  not  be  cut  off  from  the  city.  Then  fhall 
the  Lord  go  forth  and  fight  againft  thefe  nations* 


AN  ADDRESS.  215 

Who  can  attentively  read  this  paflage  with 
what  follows,  without  perceiving  that  in  this 
predittion  there  is  reference  to  the  fame  events 
which  are  foretold  under  the  fixth  and  feventh 
vials  in  the  Revelation  ?  When  it  is  faid,  "  half 
of  the  city  {hall  go  forth  into  captivity,"  the 
meaning  probably  is,  that  the  falfe  profeflbrs  in 
the  church,  which  is  meant  by  Jerufalem,  (hall, 
in  the  time  of  perfecution,  fall  away  and  join 
the  enemy.  The  reft  who  keep  their  garments 
fhall  be  faved. 

Thefe  pafiages  of  fcripture,  and  others  which 
might  be  mentioned,  feem  to  indicate  that  the 
time  of  the  greateft  fufferings  of  the  church  is 
yet  to  come,  and  is  faft  approaching,  and  even 
at  the  door.  There  is  nothing  in  the  prefent 
ftate  or  difpofition  of  mankind  that  is  the  lead 
fecurity  againft  this,  but  much  to  the  contrary. 
What  has  taken  place  in  Europe  the  laft  centu- 
ry, and  in  a  few  years  paft,  and  is  now  progref- 
fmg  there,  and  even  in  America,  is  an  evidence 
of  this.  Unbelievers,  of  whom  there  are  many, 
think  and  fay  they  have  found  out  that  chriftian- 
ity  has  been  the  fource  of  moft  of  the  evils 
which  mankind  fuffer  :  and  they  cannot  be  hap- 
py until  chriftianity  and  chriftians  are  wholly 
fuppreffed  and  deftroyed.  Nothing  can  prevent 
their  attempting  this,  by  pra&ifing  the  moft 
cruel  and  horrid  perfecution  of  chriftians  that 
has  ever  yet  been  known,  unlefs  reftrained  from 
it  by  God,  which  there  is  no  reafon  to  expe&y 


2i6  An  address. 

but  the  contrary,  from  the  prophecy  in  the  Rev* 
elation,  which  has  been  confidered,  and  thofe 
juft  now  mentioned. 

This  may  be  neceflary  as  a  mean  to  purge  the 
vifible  church  of  the  many  and  great  corruptions 
in  do&rine  and  pra£Hce,  which  have  been  intro- 
duced and  do  continue  •,  and  to  detedt  and  ex- 
clude the  many  falfe  profeffors  :  and  to  purify 
and  render  real  chriftians  more  holy,  and  fo 
prepared  for  that  more  perfedt  ft  ate  which  fhall 
commence  with  the  millennium.  It  is  predicted, 
and  probably  refpe£te  this  very  time,  that  "  many 
fhall  be  purified  and  made  white  and  tried." 
[Daniel  xii.  10.]  When  Chrift  {hall  comb  in 
this  way  he  will  lit  as  a  refiner  and  purifier  of 
filver  :  and  who  fhall  ftand,  when  he  appeareth  ? 
None  but  thofe  who  watch  and  keep  their  gar- 
ments. 

4.  The  fure  and  only  way  to  be  blefled,  is  to 
watch  and  keep  your  garments.  This  is  the 
only  way.  This  is  implied  in  thefe  words  of 
Chrift,  as  has  been  obferved.  And  that  it  is  a 
fure  way,  is  as  certain  as  it  is  that  Chrift  him- 
felf  fpake  thefe  words.  And  it  is  implied  that 
they  fhall  be  in  a  peculiar  manner  and  degree 
blefled,  who  in  this  day  of  great  temptation  and 
fuffering,  are  faithful  to  Chrift,  and  perfevere 
in  adherence  to  him  and  his  caufe  through  great 
oppofition  and  trials. 

END  OF  THE  ADDRESS. 


DISCOURSE, 

DELIVERED  AT 

NEWPORT,  RHODE-ISLAND, 

AT  THE  FUNERAL  OF  THE 

REV.  SAMUEL  HOPKINS,  D.  D. 

Pastor  of  the  first  Congregational  Church  there. 

WHO  DIED  ON  THE 

20th  of  December,  A.  D.  1803, 

IN  THE  EIGHTY-THIRD  YEAR  OF  HIS  AGE, 
AND   SIXTIETH   OF  HIS   MINISTRY. 


BY  LEVI  HART,  D.  D. 

PASTOR  OF  THE   NORTH  CHURCH  IN  PRE S TON. 


FUNERAL  DISCOURSE. 


2  KINGS  11.   12. 


-My  father ,  my  father ',  the  cl 


of  Ifrael  and  the  horfemen  thereof  I 

1  HIS  pathetic  exclamation  was  uttered  by  the 
prophet  Elifha,  when  he  law  his  venerable  teach- 
er and  guide  afcending  to  glory  in  a  chariot  o£ 
fire.  The  prophet  Elijah  lived  in  a  very  degen- 
erate age,  and  was  commifiioned  to  prophecy  to 
a  flupid  and  obftinate  generation.  Yet  he  per- 
fevered  with  inflexible  refolution  and  unabating 
fidelity,  in  declaring  the  counfels  of  God,  and 
warning  the  wicked  of  approaching  deftruclion. 

When  advanced  in  life,  he  called  Elifha  to  an 
immediate  attendance  on  him,  and  gave  him  the 
needful  inftru£tions,  for  the  place  he  was  defin- 
ed to  fill,  as  his  fucceflbr  in  the  prophetic  office.* 
Their  mutual  exprelfions  of  pious  friendfhip 
previous  to  their  feparation  were  inflructive  and 
edifying.  Afk,  faid  the  old  prophet  to  his 
friend,  «  what  I  fliall  do  for  thee  before  I  be 
taken  away  from  thee."  "  I  pray  thee,  laid 
Elifha,  that  a  double  portion  of  thy  fpirit  may 
reft  upon  me." 

*  I  Kirgs  six.   19— %i. 


220  FUNERAL  DISCOURSE. 

What  are  the  friendfhips  of  the  world  when 
compared  with  this  ? — We  fee  an  aged  Minifter 
of  God  about  to  afcend.  But  he  could  not 
leave  the  world  until  he  had  performed  the  laft 
kind  office  to  his  beloved  pupil.  A  parting 
bleffing  too  was  the  object  of  Elifha's  praver. 
Their  wifhes  united  in  the  moft  valuable  acqui- 
fition  ;— • «  The  fpirit  of  Elijah  refted  on  Elifha." 

Happy  for  him,  as  it  opened  an  extenfive  field 
of  ufefulnefs  and  felicity  on  earth,  happy  for 
his  country  and  generation,  as  he  was  hereby 
qualified  to  fucceed  his  mafter,  as  their  gu;de, 
defence  and  ftay. — Happy  for  the  old  prophet  as 
it  occupied  his  laft  moments,  on  earth,  in  bene- 
fiting his  moft  beloved  friend  whom  he  left  be- 
hind.— Happy  for  them  both,  as  it  ferved  the 
intereft  of  God's  holy  kingdom,  as  it  united  them 
in  more  endearing  bonds,  and  prepared  the  way 
for  mutual  congratulation  at  their  re-union,  in 
the  blefled  manfions  occupied  by  the  fpirits  of 
the  juft  made  perfect. 

In  the  words  of  the  text  we  have  the  expreflive 
exclamation  of  the  young  prophet,  at  the  afcent 
of  his  mafter. — «  My  father,  my  father,  the 
chariot  of  Ifrael  and  the  horfemen  thereof  !" 

The  import  of  tnefe  expreffions  will  be  plain 
and  fignificant  to  us,  if  we  remember  that  the 
principal  defence  and  fafety  of  the  ancient  Asiat- 
ic nations,  was   in  their  cavalry.     They  v 


FUNERAL  DISCOURSE.  221 

accuftomed  to  righting  either  on  horfeback  or  in 
chariots,  built  for  war,  and  armed  in  fuch  a 
manner,  as  to  be  well  adapted  for  defence  and 
to  be  terrible  to  the  enemy.  Thefe  in  a  cam- 
paign country,  were  the  principal  ftrength  of 
an  army  •,  though  they  could  net  be  brought  to 
acl:  with  equal  fuccefs  in  the  hills  and  moun- 
tains. Hence  that  faying  of  the  fervants  of  the 
king  of  Syria,  after  their  defeat  by  the  men  of 
Ifrael.  "  Their  Gods  are  Gods  of  the  hills. 
Therefore  they  were  ftronger  than  we.  But  let 
us  fight  agamft  them  in  the  plain,  and  we  fhall 
be  ftronger  than  they  !"  * 

From  various  fcripture  texts,  it  appears  that 
God's  people  were  directed  to  place  their  confi- 
dence in  him  alone  for  protection  and  fafety. 
That  as  a  vifible  evidence  of  this  they  were  not 
allowed  to  multiply  horfes  and  chariots,  tl 
when  taken  in  war  from  their  enemies  the  horfes 
fliould  be  difabled  from  war  and  their  chariots 
fhould  be  burned.f 
t 

From  the  whole  it  appears,  that  Ifrael  was  un- 
der the  peculiar  care  of  Jehovah,  their  God  an  d 
king  ;  and  that  they  were  tomanifeft  their  de- 
pendence on  him  by  remaining  deftitute  of  thofe 
means  of  defence,  which  were  common  to  other 
nations. 

*  i  Kings  xx.  23.  f  Deut.  xvii.  16,  Joft.  xi.  6—9. 
Pftlmxx.  7.     Ifai.  ii.  7.     xxxi.  1. 

T    2 


222  FUNERAL  DISCOURSE. 

It  is  however  important  to  remark,  that  rdtho' 
this  chofen  people  were  protected  by  God  with- 
out the  means  adopted  by  other  nations,  it  was 
not  his  good  pleafure,  ufually,  to  defend  and 
fave  them  without  any  means.  It  is  edifying  to 
obferve  the  wifdom  and  goodnefs  of  God  in 
conftituting  means  for  the  accomplifhment  of 
his  defigns,  of  wifdom  and  love,  to  his  people. 
Though  it  would  be  equally  eafy  with  him  to 
effect  them  without  means.  This  is  eminently 
illuftrated,  in  his  providential  difpenfations  to 
his  ancient  chofen  people.  The  bleflings  they 
enjoyed  were  ufually  conveyed  from  heaven  to 
them,  through  the  inftrumentality  of  able  and 
pious  rulers,  prophets  and  teachers. 

This  difplays  the  intent  and  meaning  of  our 
text.  Under  the  divine  fuperintendance,  Eli- 
jah had  been  to  Ifrael  all  that  which  horfes  and 
chariots  were  defigned  to  be  to  other  nations  ; 
even  their  ftrength  and  flay.  His  venerable 
age,  character,  and  relation  to  Elifha,  as  his 
guide  and  teacher,  induced  him  to  apply  the 
honorable  epithet  of  father.  Hence,  palling  all 
other  applications  of  the  paffage  before  us,  we 
fhall  attend  to  the  following  propofition,  viz. 
To  fhowin  what  refpects,  able  and  pious  teach- 
ers of  religion,  are  the  means  of  defence  and 
fafety  to  the  people  of  God.  It  is  admitted  that 
fafety  is  from  God,  as  really,  when  brought  to 
us  through  the  agency  of  men,  as  when  imme- 


FUNERAL  DISCOURSE.  223 

diately  from  him.  It  is  alfo  admitted,  that  the 
truth  in  the  text  applies  to  public  men  in  all  rela- 
tions to  fociety,  who  are  able  and  who  faithfully 
ferve  their  generation  by  the  will  of  God.  But 
at  prefent  we  apply  it  only  to  the  able  and  pious 
teachers  of  religion. 

We  fhall  attempt  to  illuftrate  and  confirm  it  by 
the  following  obfervations,  viz. 

1.  The  public  teachers  of  religion  are  quali- 
fied and  appointed  by  God  for  this  purpofe. 
Scripture  hiftory  abundantly  confirms  this  ob- 
fervation. 

Mofes  was  defigned  by  God  for  a  public  teach- 
er of  religion.  Provifion  was  therefore  made 
for  his  education,  in  Egyptian,  (as  well  as  He- 
brew) learning.  He  was  then  carried  through 
the  fchool  of  adverfity  in  a  ftrange  land,  employ- 
ed in  the  folitary  and  contemplative  life  of  a 
fhepherd.  At  length  he  received  the  divine 
commiflion  conflitutingiiim  the  leader  and  fhep- 
herd of  the  flock  of  Ifrael.  Great  and  difficult 
were  the  duties  of  his  office.  How  could  he 
have  discharged  them  without  that  diftinguifhed 
fhare  of  grace,  of  gifts  and  learning  with  which 
he  was  endued  ?  Who  would  have  guided  the 
chofen  tribes  to  the  land  of  liberty  and  reft  had 
there  not  been  a  Moles  : 

The  duties  of  a  puHifc  teacher  require  a  found 


224  FUNERAL  DISCOURSE. 

underftanding,  and  other  mental  powers  adtive 
and  vigorous.  A  well  cultivated  mind  and  a 
heart  enlarged  in  the  fervice  of  God,  and  for 
the  good  of  men.  Without  each  of  thefe,  and 
eipecially  this  laft,  there  is  fmall  ground  to  hope 
that  the  teacher  will  be  found  to  be  "  the  chariot 
of  Ifracl  and  the  horfemen  thereof*" 

Hence  we  may  reft  in  the  comfortable  prof- 
peel,  that  when  it  pleafes  God  to  ufe  any  one  for 
this  purpofe  he  will  raife  up  and  qualify  him  $ 
and  that  he  calls  to  this  important  fervice  thofe 
only  whom  he  hath  firft  qualified  to  perform1  it. 
Such  he  calls  to  it  and  affifts  them  in  it,  and  to- 
fuch  the  promifes  of  the  divine  prefencc  and  af- 
fiftance  arc  made.  The  manner  of  his  conftitu- 
ting  public  teachers,  and  inducting  them  to  their 
office  has  been  various  in  the  different  ages  of  the 
church  :  but  all  terminating  in  the  fame  object. 
The  perfons  are  marked  out,  either  by  the  imme- 
diate agency  of  God,  or  by  him  through  the 
agency  of  man.  But  always  fo  as  to  imply  the 
importance  of  the  before  named  qualifications. 

2.  The  inftrucYions  of  public  teachers,  who 
are  qualified  for  their  work,  are  defigned  and 
adapted  to  guide,  protect  and  fave  their  hearers. 
Thefe  inftru£tions  have  been  various,  as  to  form 
and  circumftances,  in  the  different  ages  of  the 
world  '9  but  have  always  bggp  adapted  to  the  ca- 
pacity andflate  of  maiij.  to  lead  him  to  the  true. 


FUNEUAL  DISCOURSE.  22ff 

knowledge  of  God,  of  himfelf  and  the  way  to 
perfedt  and  durable  felicity. 

Under  the  chriftian  revelation  they  are  abun- 
dantly clear. 

It  is  the  obje£t  of  the  public  teacher  to  lead 
his  hearers  to  be  wife  and  happy,  by  inftructing 
them  concerning  the  being  and  perfections  of  the 
one  living  and  true  God. — The  nature,  extent 
and  perfection  of  his  providential  and  moral 
government. — The  nature,  relations,  and  prof- 
pe£ts  of  man  as  an  accountable  being. — The  ex- 
tent and  perfection  of  the  moral  law,  and  the  fin 
and  ruin  of  man  as  a  tranfgreflbr. — Utterly  de- 
praved, and  juftly  condemned  and  in  a.hopelefs 
ftate,  without  the  intervention  of  fovereign 
grace. — And  the  wonderful  method  of  grace  for 
man,  exhibited  in  the  mediatorial  fyftem,  through 
which  there  is  complete  ialvation  for  the  moft 
guilty  of  our  race  who  fly  for  refuge,  to  the 
hope  fet  before  them  in  the  gofpel. — By  an  ex- 
hibition of  thefe  and  other  connected  truths,  the 
public  teacher  leads  his  hearers  to  the  light  of 
life  ;  and  if  they  receive  the  truth  in  the  love  of 
it,  they  will  not  fail  of  obtaining  in  the  final  if- 
fue,  complete  deliverance  from  the  ruins  of  the 
apoftacy  and  an  inheritance  among  all  thofe  who 
are  fan£tified  through  faith  in  Chrift  Jefus. 


Ig^BL  goo> 


3.  The  examploBot  good  public  teachers,  is 
excellently  adaptecMBtforce  their  inftruttions, 


226  FUNERAL  DISCOURSE. 

fo  as  to  protect,  guide,  and  fave  their  hearers. 
Notwithstanding  the  imperfections  of  the  pres- 
ent itate,  good  public  teachers  do  in  a  meafure 
exemplify  their  inftructions,  by  their  pious  con- 
verfation.  This,  above  mod  other  things,  is 
adapted  to  influence  their  hearers,  by  fixing  a 
ftrong  conviction  on  their  minds  of  the  truth  and 
importance  of  their  inftruttions  ;  the  guilty  and 
miferable  ftate  of  man,  as  a  (inner,  the  great 
and  awful  danger  of  final  ruin,  the  neceffity  of 
gofpel  grace, .  the  precioufnefs  of  Chriil,  the 
excellency  of  chriftianity,  and  the  worth  of  an 
intereft  in  the  divine  favor.  The  influence  of  ex- 
ample is  well  known  to  be  great.  That  of  fu- 
periors  has  peculiar  advantage  ;  in  which  rela- 
tion, public  inftruftors  are  generally  viewed  by 
mod  of  their  hearers. 

If  they  are  pbfleffed  of  a  candid  and  ingenuous 
mind,  in  matters  of  religion,  they  cannot  fail  of 
profiting  by  the  combined  influence  of  good  in- 
struction and  pious  example. 

Man  is  expofed  to  many  evils  from  the  cor- 
ruptions of  his  own  heart,  from  the  temptations 
of  the  world,  and  efpecially  from  evil  men,  and 
from  the  great  adversary  of  good,  "  who  goeth 
about  like  a  roaring  lion  feeking  whom  he  may 
devour."* 


*  i  Peter  v. 


^ 


funeral  discourse.  ^27 

The  inftruttions  of  wifdom  and  the  example 
of  good  men  united,  are  excellently  adapted  to 
guide  him  in  his  way,  to  protect  him  from  all 
thefe  enemies  and  bring  him  to  final  peace  and 
fafety. 

The  bible  hiftory  of  ancient  Ifrael  is  eminently 
adapted  to  illuftrate  and  confirm  the  truth  we 
are  confidering.  While  Mofes  and  Jofhua  lived, 
and  while  the  Elders  remained  who  over-lived 
Jofliua,  the  people  obeyed  the  commandments 
of  the  Lord  ;  but  when  thefe  were  removed, 
they  turned  to  idolatry.  The  fame  truth  is  ef- 
tabliihed  by  the  hiftory  of  the  good  leaders  and 
the  evil  ones-  in  Judah  down  to  the  Babylonifli 
captivity.  When  they  had  good  kings  and 
priefts,  they  kept  the  divine  commands  ;  but  no 
fooner  were  thefe  removed  and  fucceeded  by  evil 
ones,  than  the  people  departed  from  the  Lord. 

The  hiftory  of  good  Jehoiada  deferves  our  at- 
tention. He  was  an  able  and  faithful  initruclor, 
and  his  example  confirmed  the  truth  of  what  he 
taught.  Tn  confequence  of  this,  the  kingdom 
was  reftored  from  the  very  corrupt  ftate,  into 
which  it  had  fallen  under  the  ufurpation  of  the 
wicked  Athaliah,  and  the  people  followed  the 
Lord  ail  the  days  of  Jehoiada,  and  he  was  ex- 
ceedingly venerable  in  their  eyes.  The  infpired 
writer  of  the  hiftory  informs  us,  that,  "  Jehoiada 
waxed  old  and  wa^ljk  of  days  when  he   died, 


*M  1  of 

1 


:^8  FUNERAL  DISCOURSE. 

an  hundred  and  thirty  years  old  was  he  when 
he  died.  And  they  buried  him  in  the  city  of 
David,  among  the  kings,  becaufe  he  had  done 
good  in  Ifrael,  both  towards  God,  and  toward 
his  houfe."* 

4.  The  influence  of  public  teachers  in  pre- 
paring others  to  fucceed  them,  when  they  (hall  be 
removed,  is  highly  beneficial  to  the  church  of 
God.  It  is  ufually  one  part  of  the  labor  of  emi- 
nent teachers  in  religion  to  form  the  minds  of 
youthful  ftudents,  to  fill  important  places  hereaf- 
ter. By  this,  divine  knowledge  is  preferved  in 
the  world,  and  able  and  well  qualified  public 
teachers  are  provided  for  the  church  ;  and  thus, 
from  generation  to  generation,  there  is  a  happy 
fupply  to  repair  the  wafle  of  time  and  death. 

Thus  was  the  prophet  Elijah  employed  in  his 
day,  and  Elifha  after  him,  in  training  up  "  the 
fons  of  the  prophets,"  for  important  fervice,  in 
their  day,  and  to  tranfmit  to  the  children  of  fu- 
ture times,  the  knowledge  of  divine  truth. 

Thus  alfo  are  eminent  teachers  employed  in 
this  and  former  ages.  Some  propagate  divine 
knowledge  by  oral  inftrucHons,  and  fome  by 
their  writings,  and  fome  by  both,  efpecially 
fince  the  art  of  printing  has  been  known.  «By 
each  of  thefe,  the   ufefulnefs  of  able  and  pious 


%  Chronicles  xxiv.  15 


* 


FUNERAL  DI9C0UE  22$ 

public  teachers  is  much  advanced.  How  tgftis 
the  benefit  even  to  us,  of  this  very  diitant  age, 
from  the  writings  of  Mofes  and  the  prophets 
and  other  facred  penmen  of  the  old  teftament 
and  the  new  !  and  how  great  will  be  the  debt  of 
future  ages  to  the  end  of  time  !  Yea,  may  we 
not  expe£t  that  the  blefled  in  heaven  will  be  wifer, 
better,  and  more  happy  forever,  not  only  from 
their  knowledge  of  the  fcriptures,  obtained  in 
this  life,  but  alfo  from  tKeir  advance  even  there, 
in  happifying  difcoveries  in  the  deep  myfteries 
wrapped  up  in  thefe  divine  books  !  May  not 
the  pleafing  reflection  extend,  (with  the  limita- 
tion due  to  the  bed  publications  of  uninlpired 
man)  to  the  many  excellent  books  on  divine  fub- 
jects,  which  have  been  publifhed  in  this  and  the 
preceding  ages  ?  What  an  accumulation  of 
benefits  to  the  church  of  God,  advancing  in  an 
ever  increafing  proportion,  from  this  fource  ; 
and  how  abundant  the  evidence  that  able  and 
pious  public  teachers,  are  « the  chariot  of  Ifraft, 
and  the  horfemen  thereof  !" 

5.  Able  and  pious  public  teachers  are  the  de- 
fence and  fafety  of  the  church  by  their  prayers.  1 
Though  it  is  equally  eafy  with  God  to  grant 
bleffings  to  his  people,  without  the  application  of 
this  or  any  other  mean  ;  yet  it  hath  feemed  good 
to%nernng  wifdom  to  eftablifh  this  connexion, 
and  fix  ihe  plan  of  beftowmenf  in  anfwer  to 
prayer.  Notwithftanding  the  fupplications  of 
the  moil  pious  can  make  no  change  in  the  coun- 
u 


-3°  <ERAL  DISCOURSE, 

of  God,  they  may  prepare  the  fubjedk  fof 
the  reception  cf  the  good  fought,  and  anfwer 
other  purpofes  of  fixing  this  connexion,  which  in 
the  divine  mind  are  amply  fufficient. 

That  fuch  a  connexion  is  fixed  in  the  revealed 

will  of  God,  between  the  ^prayers  of  his  people 

and  the  beflowment  of  the  needed  blefhngs,  is 

evident  from  the  hiftory  of  the  prayers  of  Abel, 

Ii,  Abraham,  Mofes,    Jofhua,  Samuel,  the 

us  kings  of  Judah,  the  prophets  of  the  old 
teilament  and  the  apoflles  of  the  new.  Men  of 
description  are  reprefented  by  God  as  thofe 
who  "  make  up  the  hedge  and  ftand  in  the  g^p 
before  him  for  the  land,  that  he  fhould  not  des- 
troy it."*  Such  in  their  day  were  Abraham,f 
Mofes4  and  Aaron,§  and  Phineas,  and  fuch,  in 
all  ages,  are  the  able  and  pious  leaders  of  the 
church  of  God.  What  chriftian  therefore  can 
hefitate  to  believe  that  the  effectual  fervent 
prayer  of  a  righteous  man  availeth  much.||  So 
manifeft  is  the  truth  that  able  and  pious  public 
teachers  are  the  defence,  protection,  and  fafety 
cf  the  church,  or,  they  are  "  the  chariot  of  Ifrael 
and  the  horfemen  thereof." 

IMPROVEMENT. 

I .  Able  and  pious"  leaders  in  the  church  of 
Chrift  are  a  great  bleffing.  Thefe  take  a  pl^ce 
and  fill  a  relation  in  the  chriftian  church,  in  many 
refpe&s,  fimilarto  that  of  Elijah,  Jehoiada,  and 

*  Ezek.  xxii.  3$.     f  Gen.  xviii.  23,  32.     f  Num.  xlv.  H— %Q< 
xvi.  44.     §  Cl;ap.  xxv.  6,  13,         ||  James  v.  16. 


FUNERAL  DISCOURSE.  23  I 

other  pious  leaders  under  the  ancient  difpenfa- 
tion. 

Their  miniftrations  ought  to  be  thankfully  re- 
ceived and  wifely  improved.  The  wifdom  and 
goodnefs  of  divine  inftitutions,  obvious  indeed 
in  other  cafes,  are  eminently  confpicuous  in  d 
The  great  things,  which  God  effe£ls  through  the 
inftrumentality  of  thefe  earthen  veffels,  abun- 
dantly "  prove  the  excellency  of  the  power  to  be 
of  God  and  not  of  man/5  and  in  various  refpecls 
this  method  of  divine  operation  is  adapted  to 
the  character  of  God  and  tKe  condition  of  man. 
How  deeply  doth  it  concern  thofe  who  are  em- 
ployed in  the  chriftian  miniftry,  to  magnify  their 
office,  by  difcharging  its  duties  to  the  bed  of 
their  ability  :  and  to  fee  that  the  miniftry  be  not 
blamed  through  any  fault  on  their  part. 

Animating  is  the  thought  of  imitating  though 
at  a  humble  diftance  the  piety,  the  wifdom,  the 
philanthropy  of  Elijah,  of  Jehoiada  and  other 
venerable  and  ufeful  characters  under  the  an- 
cient difpenfation  and  the  new.  The  hope  of 
uniting  (in  the  bleffed  exercifes  and  enjoyments 
of  futurity)  with  the  long  lift  of  faithful  fervants 
in  the  houfe  of  God,  mult  exceedingly  animate 
us,  in  the  profpe£t  of  that  world,  and  render 
the  labours  and  forrows  of  the  prefent  flate, 
light  and  momentary. 

2.  The  aged  and  wife  in  the  chriftian  minif- 
try fhould  do  their  utmoft  for  the  inftructicn  and 


232  FUNERAL  DISCOURSE. 

improvement  of  their  younger  brethren  in  divine 
knowledge,  and  to  encourage  them  to  diligence 
and  fidelity  in  their  work  ;  and  the  younger 
fhould  improve  the  feafon  of  benefiting  by  their 
inftructions,  before  they  are  removed. 

Agreeable  to  the  language  in  our  context,  the 
aged  fhould  fay  to  the  young,  "  afk  what  we 
fhall  do  for  you  before  we  be  taken  away  from 
you."  And  the  young  fhould  reply  we  "  pray 
that  a  double  portion  of  your  fpirit  may  reft  on 
US."  "  This  is  truly  friendfhip  in  death" — how 
amiable  !  how  congenial  to  the  foft  and  tender 
emotions  of  chriflian  love,  in  the  near  profpeft 
of  feparation  !  Great  are  the  benefits  to  be  de- 
rived to  the  church  of  God  by  fuch  friendly  in- 
tercourfe  between  the  aged  in  the  chriftian  tnin- 
iftry  and  the  young.  Eythis,  the  treafure  of 
theological  knowledge,  the  refult  of  many  ftudi- 
ous  years,  and  of  the  experience  of  a  long  life, 
may  be,  in  a  happy  degree,  tranfmitted  from- 
age  to  youth,  and  the  fund  of  religious  knowl- 
edge and  experience  may  be  conftantly  accumu- 
lating ;  and  the  wife  and  good  will  live  in  their 
fucceffors. 

3.  When  the  ag.ed  and  venerable  in  the  chrif- 

miniftry,  are  removed  from  our  world,  fuc- 
eeflbrs  are  called  to  take  up  the  lamentation  in  our 
text. 

Such  are  "  the  men  who  make  up  the  hedge 
and  (land  in  the  gap." — Their  removal  indie, 
the  divine   difpleafure.     They  are  often  take.:- 


FUNERAL  DISCOURSE.  233 

from  the  evil  to  come.  Thus  it  was  in  the  cafe 
of  the  good  king  Jofiah,  and  in  many  others. 
When  men  eminently  ufeful  in  the  church  on 
earth,  are  removed  from  our  world,  the  means 
of  our  protection  and  fafety  are  thus  far  removed  ; 
and  we  are  eminently  expofed  to  be  the  prey  to 
our  enemies.  This  is  no  lefs  true  in  regard  to 
the  interefts  of  the  church  of  God,  than  to  thofe 
of  fociety  in  the  prefent  world.  God  prefides 
over  both  and  protects  them,  but  he  doth  it  by 
the  inftrumentality  of  thofe  excellent  men  who 
ftand  in  the  gap.  Under  fuch  divine  rebukes, 
therefore,  furvivors  fhould  be  deeply  humbled  ; 
for  however  it  may  be  in  mercy  to  the  departed, 
it  is  an  expreffion  of  divine  diipleafure  to  them 
for  their  fins.  They  fhould,  therefore,  accept 
the  punifhment  of  them,  and  acknowledge  the 
righteoufnefs  of  God,  in  their  affliction.  They 
fhould  learn  by  it,  the  great  evil  of  fin,  as  being 
againft  God,  difplayed  in  the  extenfive  reign  of 
death  and  all  other  evils.  They  fhould  be  deeply 
humbled  under  the  tokens  of  divine  diipleafure 
— they  fhould  « be  ftill  and  know  that  he  is 
God." 

They  fhould  learn  the  vanity  of  the  world,  the 
dying  nature  of  earthly  good,  and  the  uncer- 
tainty of  the  deareft  enjoyments  below  the  ikies. 
Above  all,  they  fhould  learn  their  entire  depend- 
ence on  God,  and  turn  off  their  expectations 
from  creatures,  and  place  them  on  him,  caft 
themfelves  and  ail  their  concerns  on  his  grace, 
u  2 


234  FUNERAL  DISCOURSE. 

< <  and  be  careful  for  nothing,  but  in  every  thing, 
by  prayer  and  fupplication  with  thankfgiving,  let 
their  requefts  be  made  known." 

They  mould  not,  however,  in  mourning  for 
the  venerable  dead  "  forrow  as  thofe  who  have 
no  hope,"  for  as  Jefus  died  and  rofe  again,  even 
fo,  thofe  who  fleep  in  Jefus  will  God  bring  with 
him."  This  "  wipes  the  reproach  of  faints  away 
and  clears  the  honor  of  his  word."  By  this  it 
appears  that  "  he  is  not  afhamed  to  be  called  their 
God,  for  he  hath  prepared  for  them  a  city," 
even  "  an  houfe  not  made  with  hands  eternal  in 
the  heavens." 

Let  us  hail  the  fpirits  of  the  juft  made  perfect ! 
The  refurre£Hon  morning  and  the  complete  and 
unfading  glories  of  immortality  !  Blefied  ftate 
where  fin  and  forrow,  pain  and  death,  never 
come.  Where  all  tears  are  wiped  away.  Where 
our  departed  chriftian  friends,  and  the  long  lift 
of  our  venerable  and  pious  anceftors,  "have  en- 
tered into  peace  are  refting  in  their  beds,  each 
one  walking  in  his  uprightnefs."* 

Will  not  the  hope  of  a  reunion  with  them  in 
the  world  of  fpirits,  difiipate  the  dark  and  melan- 
choly gloom  which  hangs  round  their  grave,  and 
dry  the  falling  tear — rather  teach  us  to  be,  "  as 
forrowful  yet  always  rejoicing."  Holy  joy,  fweet 
peace  and  everlafting  confolation,  mingle  in  ths 
ibrrows   of    parting  chriftian    friends. 

*  Ifaiah  lvl*  z.    ' 


FUNERAL  DISCOURSE. 


W 


M  The  chamber  where  the  good  man  meets^his  fate, 

Is  privileg'd  above  the  common  walk 

Of  virtuous  life  ;  quite  in  the  verge  of  heav'n." 

4.  Surviving  leaders  in  the  church  of  God 
fhould  take  up  the  falling  mantle  of  the  venera- 
ble dead,  and  fay  "  where  is  the  Lord  God  of. 
Elijah  ?"  They  fhould  imitate  their  fpirit,  their 
zeal  and  their  active  fidelity. 

The  refpectful  debt  of  chriftian  friendfhip* 
in  the  funeral  folemnities,  being  paid,  they  recol- 
lect that  to  do  the  higheft  honor  to  their  depart- 
ed friends  they  muft  emulate  their  virtues,  and 
"  follow  them  wherein  they  followed  Chrift.,> 
That  the  removal  of  men,  eminent  in  the  church 
of  God,  leaves  a  gap  in  the  walls  of  the  city 
which  muft  be  guarded  by  others.  A  vacant 
place  in  the  field  of  labor  which  mull  be  fuppli- 
ed  by  frefh  hands,  or  by  the  more  active  and 
unremitted  exertions  of  furvivors,  or  by  both* 
Survivors  muft  be  "  baptized  for  the  dead." 
They  muft  advance  to  fill  the  ranks  left  vacant  by 
the  fall  of  thofe  before  them.  In  fuch  a  cafe, 
how  powerful  the  motives  to  chriftian  minifters, 
for  unceafing  labors  in  the  caufe  of  truth,  and 
for  united  fupplications  to  "  the  Lord  of  the 
harveft  that  he  would  fend  forth  laborers  into  his 
harveft."  "  By  whom  Lord  fhall  Jacob  rife  for 
he  is  finall." 

5.  We  are  called  to  a  particular  application  of 
the  fubjeel:  to  the  prefent  folemnity.  In  celebra- 
ting the  funeral  of  this  venerable  minifter  of 
Chrift,  we  are  conftrained  to  repeat  the  language 

4n  ,m».  j-^f  .    cc  f\„*  f^l„»r     wr  father,    the  rh?,r~ 


2^6  FUNERAL  DISCOURSE. 

iot  of  Ifrael  and  the  horfemen  thereof."  In  how 
many  refpecb  he  was  fo,  is  molt  fully  known  by 
thofe  whofe  intercourfe  with  him  was  longed  and 
mod  intimate.  Furnifhed,  by  the  Father  of 
lights,  with  mental  powers  eminently  adapted 
for  critical  and  patient  invedigation,  and  early 
devoted  to  literary  purfuits,  he  paffed  the  ufual 
courfe  of  academic  dudies,  and  graduated  at 
Yale  College  in  New-Haven  in  the  year  1741, 
juft  as  a  mod  uncommon  and  extenfive  attention 
to  religion  was  beginning  to  appear  in  Nqw- 
England  and  elfewhere.  Having  hopefully  be- 
come a  fubjeft  of  the  faving  grace  of  God, 
he  refolved  to  confecrate  his  life  and  talents  to 
the  fervice  of  God  in  the  gofpel  of  his  Son. 
He  wifely  chofe  the  eminent  Mr.  Edwards,  then 
of  Northampton  for  his  director  in  his  theologi- 
cal dudies. 

Kr.ving  finifhed  the  courfe  of  his  preparitory 
ftudy,  he  was  regularly  recommended  to  preach 
the  gofpel,  and  in  due  time  was  inducted  into  the 
paftoral  office. 

His  field  of  minifterial  labors  has  been  at 
Great  Barrington  in  Maflachufetts,  and  at  New- 
port in  Rhode  Ifland  :  to  this  lad  his  dated  la- 
bors have  been  diredted  ever  fince  the  year  177c, 
a  few  years  excepted,  when  the  congregation  was 
difperfed  by  the  events  of  the  revolutionary  war. 
Mod  of  thofe  who  were  aftive  in  his  fettlement 
here,  have  gone  before  him  to  the  world  of  fpir- 
its,  the  few  who  remain   are  waiting    the  fura- 


FUNERAL  DISCOURSE.  237 

the  common  lot,  we  cannot  witnefs  the  remove! 
of  fo  much  wifdom,  piety  and  ufefulnefs  from 
the  church  but  with  the  deepeft  fenfibiiity. 

Thofe  who  bed  knew  him  and  are  moil  able 
to  judge  of  miniflerial  eminence,  will  agree  that 
he  was,  even  beyond  moil  evangelical  minifters, 
the  chariot  of  Ifrael  and  the  horfemen  thereof, 
in  all  thofe  refpecls,  which  have  been  already  no- 
ticed. For  this  important  work  he  was  emi- 
nently qualified  by  natural  endowments,  ac- 
quired knowledge,  and  divine  grace. 

His  inftru£tions  as  a  chriftian  teacher  were 
plain,  clear,  impreffive  and  entertaining  to  the 
attentive  hearer,  conveying  the  moll  effential 
and  practical  knowledge.  His  example  confir- 
med to  his  hearers  the  truths  and  duties  which 
he  taught.  He  was  eminently  ufeful  to  young 
minifters  and  to  thofe  preparing  for  the  chriftian 
iltry,  by  verbal  inftruttions,  and  by  various 
publications  on  theological  fubjecls.  All  his 
printed  works  may  be  read  with  profit,  and  efpe- 
cially    the  fyftem   of  divinity    in   two  volumes, 

ich he  publiihed  in  the  latter  part  of  his  life. 

We  add,  that  he  was  the  defence  and  fafety 
to  the  church  by  his  prayers  ;  in  which  we  have 
abundant  reafon  to  believe  he  was  devout,  ar- 
dent and  perfevering  to  the  laft.  In  thefe  ref- 
pects  and  others  not  mentioned  he  was  a  pillar  in 
the  church  below,  a  man  to  make  up  the  hedge 
and  ftandin  the  gap. 

He  we  drop  the  filial  tear  in   committing 


238  FUNERAL  DISCOURSE, 

his  venerable  dufh  to  the  houfe  of  filence,  as  a 
common  lofs  to  the  church  on  earth,  ftill  more 
oppreflive  forrow  mult  pierce  the  hearts  of  his 
family  connexions  and  the  people  of  his  charge* 

Yet  while  the  bereaved  widow  dwells  on  the 
fources  of  grief,  the  ought  not  to  forget  the 
fprings  of  confolation.  She  is  well  afTured  that 
this  event  is  the  work  of  infinite  perfection. 
She  doubts  not  but  the  removal  of  her  belt 
friend  on  earth,  is  an  important  accefiion  to  the 
general  aftembly  and  church  of  the  fir  ft  born, 
who  are  written  in  heaven,  to  the  fpirits  of  juft 
men  made  perfect.  She  firmly  believes* that 
hereby  God  is  glorified,  the  Redeemer  exalted, 
and  his  kingdom  benefited.  That  this  event  is 
well  adapted  to  wean  her  affections  from  earth — 
to  fmooth  her  own  paffage  through  the  dark  val- 
ley, and  animate  her  in  the  profpe£t  of  joining 
that  bleiTed  and  holy  fociety,  where  fo  many  of 
her  chriftian  friends  are  gathered  together  and 
ra*e  waiting  her  arrival.  Thankful  for  all  the 
good  fhe  has  enjoyed  on  earth,  in  the  company 
of  the  faints,  and  for  the  opportunity  given  her, 
by  the  near  connexion  between  them,  to  minifter 
to  the  comfort  and  promote  the  ufefulnefs  of 
that  fervant  of  the  Lord.  Keeping  in  mind,  that 
though  chriftian  friends  and  minifters  die,  Jefus 
Chrift  lives  and  is  the  fame,  yefterday ,  to  day  and 
forever  :  fhe  will  caft  all  her  cares  and  forrows 
on  him  and  follow  him  as  the  fhepherd  and  bifh- 
op  of  her  foul,  and  realize  his  molt  gracious  pro- 
mife  that  he  will  never  leave  her  nor  forfake  her. 


FUNERAL  DISCOURSE*  239 

May  the  furviving  children  of  this  venerable 
father  fo  wifely  improve  his  removal,  that  they 
may  be  fecure  in  the  protection  and  favor  of 
that  father  in  heaven,  who  will  guide  them  by 
counfel  and  afterward  receive  them  to  glory, 
and  leave  to  their  children,  when  they  die,  the 
blefTed  hope  concerning  them,  which  they  enter- 
tain refpe&ing  their  father. 

The  members  of  this  church  and  congregation, 
will  notice,  the  work  of  the  Lord  and  confider 
the  operation  of  his  hand.  Separation  by  death 
between  a  minifter  and  his  people,  is  an  event 
weighty  and  important.  His  province  is  to  watch 
for  fouls  as  they  who  muft  give  account ;  theirs  to 
take  heed  how  they  hear  and  to  hear  fo  that 
their  fouls  may  live.  In  the  review  of  many 
pall  years  under  the  miniftry  of  their  late  Paf- 
tor,  this  people  will  enquire  how  they  have 
heard,  what  religious  improvement  they  have 
made  and  how  they  are  prepared  to  meet  him, 
and  what  is  infinitely  more  folemn,  to  meet  their 
judge,  and  render  their  account  for  the  ufe  of 
their  religious  privileges  and  for  all  things  done 
in  the  body. 

May  they  fo  remember  his  words  as  to  praftiie 
the  holy  religion  he  taught  them,  and  teach  the 
fame  diligently  to  their  children,  and  after  all 
the  calamities  fuffered  by  this  fociety  and  this 
town,  in  thofe  years  which  have  paiTed  over  our 
heads,  may  the  good  fhepherd  take  them  by  the 
hand  and  lead  them  in  the  right  way.  And 
though  the  Lord  hath  giv^ipthem  the  bread  of 


TUNETIAL  DIS 

adverfity  and  the  water  of  affliftion?  yet  may 
not  their  teachers  be  removed  into  a  corner  any 
more,  but  may  their  eyes  fee  their  teachers, 
and  may  their  ears  "  hear  a  voice  behind  them 
faying  this  is  the  way  walk  ye  in  it,  when  they 
turn  to  the  right  hand  and  when  they  turn  to  the 


left. 


CONCLUSION. 

The  folemmties  of  this  day  addrefs  to  *  all  of 
us  prefent  the  folemn  warning  voice,  Be  ye  alfo 
ready.  No  one  has  more  caufe  to  apply  it  than 
the  fpeaker.  An  intimate  acquaintance,  of 
more  than  forty  years,  has  furnifhed  to  him  much 
^dvUntage  for  divine  inftru£tion  from  this  venera- 
ble father  in  our  Ifrael. 

Advance  in  life  and  attending  infirmities  ad- 
momfli  him,  and  his  companions  in  years,  that 
jhey  mull  fhortly  put  off  thefe  tabernacles. 
May  they  be  ready  for  their  departure,  by  la- 
boring with  diligence  and  fidelity  in  the-  foxvice 
of  Cod,  and  (landing  with  their  Ukagirt  and 
their  lamps  trimmed  and  burning.  And  may 
this  afiembly  always  have  thefe  things  in  remem- 
brance, after  the  departure  of  their  minifters,  in 
as  much  as  we  have  not  followed  cunningly  de- 
vifed  fables,  in  making  known  to  them  the  pow- 
er and  coming  of  our  Lord  Jefus  Chrifl. 


Ifaiah  xxx.  so,  21. 


~$INIS. 


I     V 


DATE  DUE 


fUmUm 


in    jun 


ruff^T** 


joni,tai#)ir 


I  51985 


u\/ 


lA 


a/J\X 


kA 


flglM 


i,  8    19l» 


,o5 


t^m*****®1*^ 


w 


PRINTED  IN  U.S.A. 


W; 


KM 


$m. 


KB 


